StarBulletin.com

Fresno deals Hawaii tough WAC loss


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POSTED: Sunday, February 07, 2010

Home court isn't what it used to be for Hawaii.

After Fresno State's 61-51 victory last night at the Stan Sheriff Center, the Rainbow Warriors' chances of qualifying for the Western Athletic Tournament took another huge hit as they dropped to 2-4 at home in league play.

A crowd of 3,202 saw the Bulldogs (12-12, 5-5) grind out a road victory without its best player, Paul George. UH's top gun, Roderick Flemings, scored 21 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent a five-game losing streak, as no other Rainbow scored more than eight.

After a 3-pointer by Fresno's Mike Ladd made it 53-46, UH's Jeremy Lay hit a 3-pointer and got a steal on the ensuing inbounds play. He was fouled, but missed the front end of the 1-and-1, and UH couldn't capitalize on two offensive rebounds. From there, Fresno hit all eight free throws once UH had to go to fouling.

UH (9-14, 2-8) stayed tied with Boise State at the bottom of the conference, but now heads on the road for difficult games at New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. Fresno moved into fifth place in the standings and snapped a five-game losing streak in Honolulu.

Fresno was without its top player, George, for the fourth straight game, but improved to 2-2 in those games. Ladd led FSU with 18 points, while freshman center Greg Smith added 16 and Sylvester Seay 13.

UH was also short-handed in the backcourt without the indefinitely suspended Dwain Williams. Starting point guard Hiram Thompson was also still noticeably bothered by a dislocated left shoulder, and went scoreless in 28 minutes.

UH coach Bob Nash looked for answers with myriad combinations. Leroy Lutu Jr. entered the game at the 14:15 mark of the first half, while reserve big men Ji Xiang and Douglas Kurtz played simultaneously before halftime, a first.

UH had its difficulties taking care of the basketball, due to both the battered backcourt and unorthodox combinations it was forced to use. The Rainbows turned it over 19 times to 12 for Fresno.

The two teams employed zone defenses for most of the night. UH couldn't get much offense going besides Flemings, whose midrange jumper was effective as he shot 9-for-17 after a 1-for-6 start.

Hawaii outscored Fresno 6-1 to open the second half to take a 31-28 lead, but Sylvester Seay countered with a tying 3-pointer. The visitors reclaimed the lead at 36-35 with 11:52 left, and went up 40-35 after a 9-0 run. UH got it to 42-41 on two Adhar Mayen free throws, with 8:45 to go, but that was as close as it got.

FSU built a 16-11 lead early by shooting 4-for-5 on 3-pointers. But UH got back in it with Petras Balocka's passing at the top of the key. He threaded bullets to Adhar Mayen and Paul Campbell for easy baskets as UH tied it at 18.

Ladd hit his third trey to make it 27-20 FSU with 2:30 left in the half, but the Rainbows scored the final five points of the period to trail just 27-25 at halftime.

Former Hawaii women's basketball coach Vince Goo, former tennis coach Jim Schwitters, former shot putter and strength coach Terry Albritton and former baseball and football player Jyun “;Curly”; Hirota were inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor at halftime.

 

Fresno State 61, Hawaii 51

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

     

     

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

 

Bulldogs (12-12, 5-5)
 fg-aft-arbpfptsatomin
Ladd4-106-632182336
Kelly0-00000000
Brown0-20-0010004
Shepp4-92-232117236
Golubovic0-60-02302126
Johnson0-31-2111006
Smith5-76-862160337
Seay5-100-072132139
Sperling1-30-02121216
TEAM  1
Totals19-5015-182514611412200

 

       

Rainbow Warriors (9-14, 2-8)
 fg-aft-arbpfptsatomin
Balocka2-60-26142222
Thompson0-10-00003428
Lay2-60-11163224
Campbell1-10-01220014
Lutu0-10-0010006
Flemings9-173-682213137
Mayen2-94-46180231
Xiang0-10-0000002
Adams4-60-08381330
Kurtz1-10-0032126
TEAM  6 
Totals21-497-13361451719200

Key— fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; rb: rebounds; pf: personal fouls; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.
Halftime— Fresno State 27, Hawaii 25
3-point goals— Fresno State 8-22 (Ladd 4-8, Seay 3-5, Shepp 1-5, Sperling 0-1, Golubovic 0-3), Hawaii 2-14 (Lay 2-5, Balocka 0-1, Thompson 0-1, Lutu 0-1, Flemings 0-3, Mayen 0-3).
Steals— Fresno State 8 (Shepp 6, Smith, Sperling), Hawaii 6 (Lay 2, Thompson, Campbell, Flemings, Adams). Blocked shots— Fresno State 2 (Seay, Ladd), Hawaii 1 (Mayen).
Officials— Mike Scyphers, Jimmy Casas, Martin Cota. A—3,202.

 

WAC Men's Basketball Standings

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
TeamWLPctGBAll
Utah State82.80018-6
Louisiana Tech72.7781/219-4
New Mexico State72.7781/214-8
Nevada54.5562 1/213-9
Fresno State55.500312-12
San Jose State56.4553 1/212-11
Idaho37.300511-11
Hawaii28.20069-14
Boise State28.200611-12

Yesterday
Fresno State 61, Hawaii 51
New Mexico State 94, San Jose State 82
Idaho 79, Boise State 55
Utah State 76, Nevada 65
Tomorrow
Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State
Wednesday
Nevada at Idaho
Thursday
Utah State at Boise State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Saturday
Hawaii at Louisiana Tech
Boise State at Nevada
Idaho at Fresno State
Utah State at San Jose State