WARRIOR BASKETBALL
Rainbows wait for Rebels to visit
Hawaii wants to avenge an early loss at UNLV
Tomorrow night's rematch with UNLV will be about second chances for the Hawaii basketball team.
Collectively, the Rainbow Warriors have been looking forward to getting a second shot against the Runnin' Rebels since their season-opening loss in Las Vegas last month.
Hawaii vs. UNLV
When: Tomorrow, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Oceanic Cable pay-per-view, digital Ch. 256; rebroadcast on KFVE at 10 a.m. Wednesday
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: $26 (lower level, single seats only), $22 (upper, adult), $5 (upper, students), $3 (upper, UH students), $5 (Super Rooter/Manoa Maniacs)
Parking: $3
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The game also represents a chance for the 'Bows to pick themselves up after a disappointing end to a lengthy road trip last week.
"You always remember your losses, you learn from them," said UH guard Matt Gibson, referring to the first meeting with UNLV. "We definitely, as a team, have gotten a lot better since then."
The Rainbows have spent the last few days getting reacquainted with the Stan Sheriff Center after returning from an 11-day road trip to Alaska and Northern California. They open a six-game homestand tomorrow against UNLV to complete the home-and-home nonconference series.
Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
"It's been a while," UH senior Matt Lojeski said of being back in the Sheriff Center. "It feels great to be back in here, even to get to class actually. You just feel comfortable here, you feel relaxed and energized a little bit."
The Rainbows emerged from the road trip at 4-3, after splitting their four-game mainland odyssey. Some of the momentum of a third-place showing in the Great Alaska Shootout was sapped by a 68-59 loss at Santa Clara last Wednesday.
"At times we can play really well, but we're still inconsistent," Lojeski said. "I just think we have to get a few games in a row where we play consistently. We never really know which team is going to come out and play."
The Hawaii big men will try to rebound from a performance in which they were beaten on the boards 45-24. The Broncos grabbed 23 offensive rebounds to frustrate Hawaii by scoring on second-chance opportunities.
Those numbers have gnawed at the 'Bows in the days since the loss.
"I was just totally out of the game, I just didn't help my team the way I'm supposed to help them," said forward Ahmet Gueye, who finished with no points and four rebounds against the Broncos. "I'm definitely taking this personally to help my team in this game.
"My teammates were there for me, they were saying, 'We believe in you, just keep working hard.' I thank them for that."
After playing a Santa Clara team that matched them in size, the Rainbows will now shift gears for a guard-oriented UNLV team that beat UH 73-59 on Nov. 10.
"We have to come out and answer the call, no question," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "Now it's back to a different game, now it's back to the perimeter play."
Hawaii committed 19 turnovers in the opener and fell behind by 19 in the first half. The 'Bows fought back to take the lead in the second half but went cold down the stretch.
"We just have to deal with the pressure better and we're going to be at home with our crowd and with seven games under our belt," Gibson said. "That's what we're focusing on right now, cutting down the turnovers and applying pressure ourselves."
UNLV enters the game at 5-2 after losing at Arizona 89-75 on Nov. 28 and routing Northern Arizona 93-53 on Saturday.
Forward Wendell White leads four Rebels averaging double-digit scoring with 14.9 points per game. Guard Wink Adams is just behind at 14.6 ppg, while guard Kevin Kruger averages 11.8 points and 4.6 assists.
"We've got six games at home and we have to take care of business," Gueye said. "This is our house and we have to protect it."
Seeing White: Tomorrow's game has been designated as a "White Out" night. Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear white tops to the Sheriff Center.
Since beginning the promotion during the 2000-01 season, the Rainbows are 7-1 in White Out games.