LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a game with conference championship implications, the University of Hawai'i football team lost to UNLV, 38-10, Friday night at Allegiant Stadium. With the loss the Rainbow Warriors fell to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Mountain West to drop out of the conference title race.

The game pitted two of the most explosive offenses in the league. UNLV proved superior as the Rebels scored on their first four drives of the game to take a double-digit first-half lead they would not relinquish. With its third straight win over the Warriors, UNLV (9-2, 5-2 MW) maintained possession of the Island Showdown Trophy and kept its conference title hopes alive. 

Anthony Colandrea completed 21-of-26 passes for 253 yards and three touchdown passes to direct a Rebel offense that was clicking all evening. Colandrea spread the ball around with nine different receivers with a catch. 

Meanwhile, UNLV stifled a UH offense that had scored 30 or more points in five straight games. UH finished with a season-low 231 yards – including just 91 in the second half – in being held to its second-lowest point total of the season. 

The game started as though it would be a track meet. UNLV kicked a field goal on its opening drive to get on the scoreboard first. UH countered back on its first possession with a scintillating 70-yard touchdown catch from Jackson Harris that gave the 'Bows a 7-3 advantage. It was the fourth straight game that Harris found the end zone.

But UNLV then ran off 21 unanswered points, including a big-play response of their own when Colandrea connected with Taeshaun Lyons on a 72-yards pass play. Colandrea was 14-of-18 for 193 yards in the first half in leading the UNLV to a 17-5 advantage on first downs while controlling the clock.

Kansei Matsuzawa gave UH some momentum into the locker room with a 45-yard kick, making him a perfect 23-of-23 on the season and extending his field goals made streak to a nation-leading 24 straight dating back to last year. UH trailed just 24-10 despite being seemingly dominated for much of the first 20 minutes. UNLV doubled up the Warriors in yards (274-140) and time of possession in taking a two-touchdown advantage into the locker room. 

UH couldn't muster any offense in the second half to get back in the game. The UH defense forced its first turnover of the game when Luther McCoy forced a Keyvone Lee fumble near midfield midway through the third quarter. But the 'Bows couldn't capitalize and UNLV tacked on two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to put the game away for good. 

The Rainbow Warriors will now return home for its regular-season finale when it takes on Wyoming on Senior Night.  Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Ching Complex.