Game Notes

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team (15-10, 6-4 WAC) returns to Western Athletic Conference action with a pair of pivotal road games this week. First up for the Rainbow Warriors is a showdown with New Mexico State (20-8, 7-3 WAC) on Thursday, Feb. 23. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MT (4:00 p.m. HT) at the Pan American Center.
 
In a cluttered league race, jut 2.5 games separate the second- and fifth-place teams. With just four WAC games remaining, the 'Bows currently sit in fourth-place with a 6-4 mark but a win on Thursday would catapult UH into a tie for second-place with New Mexico State and Idaho.  
 
UH won the first meeting between the teams in Honolulu last month, 91-87, as UH surged out to a sizeable 19-point lead in the second half before weathering a late Aggie flurry.  Las Cruces, however, has not been kind to the Rainbow Warriors. UH is winless in six all-time trips to the Pan American Center, including four straight double-digit losses.
 
The game will be the second of three straight road games for the Rainbow Warriors, who fell to Montana, 94-79, last Saturday as part of the BracketBusters event. Vander Joaquim recorded his 10^th double-double of the season (17 points, 10 rebounds) and leads the team averaging 14.9 ppg and 9.9 rpg.
 
New Mexico State has won its last three contests and notched its 20^th win of the year with an impressive 71-55 home win over Drake on Saturday. The Aggies lead the WAC in scoring offense at 77.5 ppg, while UH is second at 74.6 ppg. UH is tops in league games (76.3 ppg) with the Aggies are second (75.0 ppg).
 
Following its game at New Mexico State, UH will play its final regular-season WAC road game at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Feb. 25.
 
Game 27 Tip-off Notes
Who: Hawai'i (15-11, 6-4 WAC) at New Mexico State (20-8, 7-3 WAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
Time: 7:05 p.m. MT
Where: Pan American Center (8,994) - Las Cruces, N.M.
Television: AggieVision. Live statewide on Ch. 12 (SD) and 1012 (HD) with Glen Cerny (play-by-play) and Jeff Matthews (color). Re-telecast at 9:30 p.m.
Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on ESPN3.com.
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play). Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at NMStateSports.com.
Coaches: Gib Arnold is in his second year at UH (34-24). Marvin Menzies is in his fifth year at New Mexico State (96-76).
Series Information: New Mexico State leads, 12-4