Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cameron Kucic Senior Forward Alex Veit (50) put up a shot, while Bulldog Forward Hector Hernandez (21) attempts to block the shot. [Click to enlarge]

After struggling for more than half the season, the University of Hawai‘i men's basketball team (7-10, 3-2 Western Athletic Conference) will aim for their third consecutive win when they travel to Idaho to play the Boise State Broncos.

The Warriors claimed their first back-to-back win of the season last Saturday in a 75-62 victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs at the Stan Sheriff Center.

In front of a capacity crowd of about 5,500, the Bulldogs and the Rainbow Warriors were in a tight seesawing battle for the entire first period. The Warriors nailed the pull-away win over the Bulldogs after consecutive 3-pointers came from seniors Bobby Nash and Matt Gibson early in the second half. The series of points beyond the arc concealed Hawai‘i with a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. UH finished the game hitting nine 3-pointers.

"All the 3-point shots were in the offense, we did everything within the framework of the offense and we started to get comfortable in our own gym," head coach Bob Nash said. "Tonight was one of those good nights. We had a system that we were going to run and see if our system was better. It wasn't just a one-on-one battle, we played as a team."

Nash and the 'Bows hope to continue tightening their system as they embark on their two-game road trip. The Broncos are currently third in the WAC behind Utah State and New Mexico State with a 4-2 WAC and 13-5 overall record. With the win over the Bulldogs, Hawai'i has jumped to fourth in the conference.

Boise State will be one of the strongest teams on Hawai‘i's schedule; the Broncos had a marginal loss to 6th-ranked Washington State and have already beaten former #21-ranked BYU.

The last time Hawai‘i played on Boise State territory, the Broncos came out on top 73-62. Coach Nash is not worried.

"I like our chances, we just have to get into our system and make it work," Nash said. "If we hit our shots and score as a team, not mostly with just one player, then it can turn out to be a good game."

The Rainbow Warriors' shooting game is a key weapon and they will continue to rely on it for their remaining games.

"We shot well, we have to shoot whenever we're in a slump," senior guard Jared Dillinger said after this weekend's game. "It worked out really, really well tonight."

After starting the season 4-8 against non-conference foes, the Warriors have won the last three out of their four games to WAC opponents.

Tip-off between the 'Bows and the Broncos is on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. ET. The Warriors will face Idaho on Jan. 26.

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