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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball let a prime opportunity to move up the league standings slip away with a 88-79 loss to Nevada Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 13-10 overall and 5-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.
 
UH could have moved into a tie for second place and inch closer to first-place Nevada, but instead were denied by a motivated Wolf Pack squad (20-4, 9-1 WAC).  Deonte Burton led Nevada with 20 points, while Malik Story added 19 points. Dario Hunt posted 15 points and 17 rebounds and led the rebounding charge for Nevada.
 
Joston Thomas led four Rainbow Warriors in double-digits with 18 points.  Hauns Brereton poured in 17 points and Vander Joaquim posted 14 points and nine rebounds. Jeremiah Ostrowski scored a season-high 15 points, while adding eight assists.
 
The game ultimately was decided on the backboards, where Nevada out-rebonded UH 46-27. Nearly half of Nevada's rebounds (20) came on the offensive end as the Wolf Pack scored 17 second-chance points.
 
Despite being beaten badly on the boards, UH was in the game for much of the way and actually led at halftime. Nevada came out hot and built a nine-point lead on a pair of occasions in the first half. But UH rallied and a Thomas dunk gave UH a 39-36 lead and plenty of momentum going into the half.
 
The 'Bows made it a six-point lead in the opening moments of the second half, but the Wolf  Pack went on a 15-6 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. Still, UH stayed within striking distance and it was just a four-point game with five minutes remaining. But the Wolf Pack scored eight unanswered points, including back-to-back three-pointers by Burton and Story, to close the door on UH.
 
Wit the win the Wolf Pack swept the season series with UH and kept a stranglehold of first in the WAC standings.
 
The Rainbow Warriors next host Fresno State on Saturday, Feb. 11 in a basketball doubleheader. The game will follow the women's contest which tips off at 5:00 p.m.