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HONOLULU – A short-handed University of Hawai'i men's basketball team suffered a disappointing 74-70 loss to Louisiana Tech Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 10-8 overall and 2-2 in the Western Athletic Conference with its second straight setback.
 
Raheem Appleby poured in 28 points, the highest individual output by a UH opponent this year, to help the Bulldogs (9-10, 1-3 WAC) snap a four-game losing streak and pick up their first conference win of the year.
 
UH, meanwhile, dropped its second straight league game in the closing seconds after opening league play 2-0. The Rainbow Warrriors played without senior captains Zane Johnson and Jeremiah Ostrowski who were both sidelined. The 'Bows also went the final five minutes of the game without its other captain, Vander Joaquim, who fouled out.
 
Joston Thomas led UH with 22 points and six rebounds, while Joaquim added 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks before exiting with his fifth foul. Shaquille Stokes chipped in 10 points and five assists.
 
UH shot 51 percent from the floor, but went just 19-of-31 from the free throw line, turned the ball over 17 times and were out-rebounded 31-30. 
 
Hawai'i, which trailed for most of the game, fell behind as many as eight points in the first half before taking a 38-34 deficit into the locker room. The second half was nip-and-tuck with the difference never growing to more than six points.
 
The Rainbow Warriors took the lead on two occasions in the second half, including a 56-55 advantage on a Stokes three-pointer with 8:31 left. However, La Tech fired back with a 10-4 run, to take the lead for good. UH cut the margin to one point on a pair of Bobby Miles free throws with just over a minute remaining, but Appelby responded with a clutch jumper for La Tech on the next possession. After stealing a Bulldog pass in the closing seconds, UH had one last chance to tie the game, but Trevor Wiseman's three-point attempt fell off the mark.
 
The 'Bows next host first-place New Mexico State (14-5, 4-0) on Saturday, Jan. 21. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m., following the women's game versus the Aggies.