Box Score
Post Game Quotes

RENO, Nev. – The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team concluded its season with a heartbreaking 62-58 loss to Fresno State in the opening round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday night at the Lawlor Events Center. The Rainbow Warriors ended the season with five straight losses to finish with a 13-17 mark.

 

UH looked poised to capture its first WAC Tournament win in four years but saw it all slip away in less than 90 seconds. The 'Bows led by as many as 11 points in the second half and held a five-point lead with 1:28 remaining in the game. However,  the Bulldogs ended the game on a 10-1 run to hand UH its third devastating loss in less than a month. UH lost similar leads at San Jose State and Nevada during regular season play.

 

Sylvester Seay led Fresno State (13-20) with 16 points, while Dwight O'Neil scored 14, including the game-winning jumper with 21 seconds left. O'Neil was inactive against UH when the 'Bows swept the regular-season series.

 

UH was led by junior Roderick Flemings who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Kareem Nitoto tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

 

Points were hard to come by for both teams in the first half. UH limited Fresno State to just 30 percent shooting in the first half, but the 'Bows shot just 35 percent themselves.

Hawai`i held the Bulldogs without a field goal for 10 minutes and led by as many as nine. UH eventually took a 28-23 lead into the locker room with Nitoto and Flemings combining for 22 of UH's points.

 

After a sloppy first half, UH took double-digit lead on rousing dunk by Flemings midway through the first half. Moments later, UH led 51-40 on an Amis layup with just under 11 minutes remaining. Fresno State responded with an 12-1 run to tie the score with just under five minutes left.

 

UH scored the next five points and led 57-52 with 1:28 remaining. However, Fresno State answered wit five points in a span of 17 seconds, including a game-tying three pointer by Michael Ladd with 1:11 left.

 

Bill Amis gave UH a 58-57 lead on a free throw with 57 seconds remaining but O'Neil hit the go-ahead bucket on Fresno State's next possession. Nitoto was called for a charge with 12 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs hit two free throws to go up by three. UH had one last chance to tie the game, but Flemings' desperation three-pointer with three seconds remaining was off the mark and Fresno State escaped with the win.