WARRIOR BASKETBALL
’Bows’ first road game under Nash is the pits
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Hawaii's first road game of the season turned into another blowout victory for the Lobos.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-3) were outscored by 22 points in the second half in an 89-60 loss to New Mexico yesterday at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.
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Bobby Nash led four Hawaii players in double figures with 16 points, but UH had no answer for the Lobos' offense in the second half.
New Mexico shot 50 percent from the 3-point line and finished the game by scoring 27 of the final 36 points.
The Lobos (6-0) increased their average margin of victory in their six wins with the 29-point victory. They entered the game having outscored their opponents by just under 26 a contest.
Seniors Jared Dillinger and Riley Luettgerodt added 15 and 14 points.
Hawaii hasn't won in Albuquerque in 18 years.
New Mexico forward Chad Toppert hit eight of 10 shots and led all scorers with 20 points. Daniel Faris added a career-high 16 points and freshman Dairese Gary had 15.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. » The Pit continues to haunt Hawaii.
The Rainbow Warriors fell to 2-22 against New Mexico in their home arena, as the Lobos shot 76 percent from the field in the second half to run away for an 89-60 men's basketball victory over Hawaii yesterday.
A season-high crowd of 13,518 saw their team improve to 6-0 for the season by outscoring Hawaii 51-29 in the second half.
It's New Mexico's 26th consecutive nonconference victory at home.
"When we scheduled the game, we knew it would be a hostile environment," Hawaii coach Bob Nash said. "The environment was what we expected, but we expected a better outcome."
Fresh off its first victory of the season, UH (1-3) jumped out to an early 18-11 lead.
Two quick fouls by Bobby Nash forced him to the bench for much of the first half as Hawaii began to struggle getting looks on offense.
The Rainbow Warriors trailed by seven at halftime and the Lobos opened the second half on a 10-2 run to increase their lead to 15.
A 3-point play by Jared Dillinger cut the lead to 62-51 with less than 10 minutes remaining.
New Mexico responded by outscoring Hawaii 27-9 the rest of the way to secure another blowout victory.
"They seemed to have turned up the energy and all of a sudden they exploded on us," Nash said. "They shot the ball unbelievably well, and when you allow a team to do that, you are not going to win."
New Mexico made an astounding 22 of 29 field goals in the second half.
Sophomore Bill Amis had 10 points for the Rainbow Warriors, who struggled to get any production from big men Stephen Verwers and P.J. Owsley, who combined for just two points and two rebounds in 38 total minutes.
"We thought we would have the advantage (inside), but our guys didn't get a lot of touches," Nash said. "Not being so perimeter oriented is something we're going to have to address."
UH signs Canadian standout
It wasn't all bad news for coach Nash yesterday.
Hawaii announced the signing of 6-foot-7 forward Adam Jespersen yesterday from H.B. Beal Secondary School in London, Ontario.
Jespersen averaged nearly 18 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. Minnesota, Iowa and Notre Dame were some of the other schools that had expressed interest in him.
"We've had a good history with Canadian players and we feel confident Adam will continue that tradition," Nash said, referring to recent stars Carl English and Phil Martin.
New Mexico 89, Hawaii 60
Lobos (6-0)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Harris |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
5 |
1 |
4
|
Faris |
8 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
7 |
0 |
16
|
Wills |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
1 |
2 |
3
|
Gary |
5 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
15
|
Giddens |
6 |
13 |
1 |
2 |
27 |
5 |
4 |
15
|
Smith |
5 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
3 |
3 |
12 |
|
Pegues |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
2
|
Martinez |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
3 |
0
|
Toppert |
8 |
10 |
0 |
2 |
23 |
4 |
3 |
20
|
Totals |
36 |
59 |
5 |
10 |
200 |
33 |
21 |
89 |
Rainbow Warriors (1-3)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Verwers |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
2 |
1 |
2
|
Amis |
4 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
26 |
3 |
0 |
10
|
Dillinger |
6 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
35 |
5 |
4 |
15
|
Luettgerodt |
6 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
37 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
|
Nash |
4 |
11 |
7 |
7 |
29 |
1 |
1 |
16
|
Nitoto |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
2 |
1 |
2
|
Campbell |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
Mayen |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Owsley |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
Veit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Totals |
22 |
49 |
13 |
16 |
200 |
21 |
12 |
60 |
Key -- fg: field goals made; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws made; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes played; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime -- New Mexico 38, Hawaii 31.
3-point goals -- New Mexico 12-24 (Toppert 4-6, Gary 3-4, Giddens 2-4, Smith 2-4, Wills 1-1, Martinez 0-2, Prentice 0-3), Hawaii 3-17 (Dillinger 2-6, Nash 1-6, Luettgerodt 0-2, Mayen 0-2, Nitoto 0-1). Personal fouls -- New Mexico 16, Hawaii 14.
Steals -- New Mexico 5 (Prentice 3, Giddens 2), Hawaii 5 (Dillinger 2, Luettgerodt 2, Campbell 1). Blocked shots -- New Mexico 2 (Giddens 2), Hawaii 0. Turnovers -- New Mexico 8 (Giddens 3, Pegues 2, Faris, Gary, Smith), Hawaii 12 (Verwers 2, Luettgerodt 2, Nash 2, Nitoto 2, Amis, Dillinger, Mayen, Team).
Officials -- Randy McCall, Sean Lehigh, Bill Kennedy -- 13,518.