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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team had its bid for the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic title denied by New Mexico State with a 95-88 loss in a midnight contest at the Stan Sheriff Center.  The Aggies used their superior size and some timely shooting to take down the Rainbow Warriors in a nationally-televised blackout game.  
 
In the day's earlier action, Western Michigan defeated Tennessee State, 63-52. Western Michigan, New Mexico State and UH finished with identical 2-1 records in the round-robin affair with Western Michigan claiming the title on the tiebreaker of least points allowed in the tournament.
 
The Aggies shot 58 percent from the floor and out-rebounded UH, 40-27 for the game. Five different Aggies finished in double-digits, led by Daniel Mullings with 21 points. Garrett Nevels led a second-half rally for UH, pouring in a game-high 26 points. Tournament MVP Isaac Fotu tallied 20 points and nine rebounds, while Quincy Smith chipped in 15 points.
 
Facing a massive Aggies frontline, UH shot just 33 percent in the first half as the Aggies took a 46-37 lead into the break. NMSU eventually extended its lead to 16 points with a little more than five minutes remaining. Hawai'i had one last run cutting the deficit to just four points on a pair of occasions with less than a minute left.
 
However, the Aggies sealed the game on the free throw line making 11 straight in the last 51 seconds. UH could do little to stop the its former conference rival, who shot an amazing 74 percent (14-of-19) in the second half.
 
The Rainbow Warriors next head to the road for the first time this season when they travel to Kansas City to take on Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. HT).
 
All-Tournament Team
David Brown, Western Michigan
Patrick Miller, Tennessee State
Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State
Tshilidzi Nepahwe, New Mexico State
Christian Standhardinger, Hawai'i
MVP: Isaac Fotu, Hawai'i