[ UH BASKETBALL ]

Gipson draws tough
job in Millsap

The UH forward faces the
nation's No. 3 rebounder

Louisiana Tech at Hawaii When: Today, 7:05 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM Internet: HawaiiAthletics.com Tickets: $17 (lower level-single seats only), $13 (upper level, adults), $5 (upper level, students), $3 (upper level, UH students), $5 (Super Rooter/Manoa Maniacs). Parking $3

Classes resumed on the University of Hawaii campus this week and Matthew Gipson is cramming for what figures to be one of his most-challenging assignments of the spring semester.

The Hawaii forward matches up against Louisiana Tech's Paul Millsap in tonight's Western Athletic Conference basketball game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A quick study of the numbers illustrates the task facing Gipson and the UH big men.

Millsap led the nation in rebounding as a freshman last year and ranks third this season at 11.7 per game. He leads the Bulldogs with 19.5 points per game and already has 30 career double-doubles.

"I have a big responsibility guarding Millsap," Gipson said. "I'm going to have to keep him off the boards and definitely bring my 'A' game and play him hard and tough."

The Rainbow Warriors (10-2, 2-2 WAC) close their three-game homestand with tonight's contest against the Bulldogs (6-8, 1-4).

The Rainbows face a LaTech team that has lost four straight, but they've been bitten by the Bulldogs before.

LaTech defeated UH 62-61 at the Sheriff Center last season. It was the last time the Rainbows lost in Honolulu and they have won 13 of their last 13 home games since that night.

"They're struggling right now, but they're fighting and they're a young-enough team that they'll bounce back," UH coach Riley Wallace said. "We just don't want it to happen here."

The Rainbows are coming off a 71-59 win over Southern Methodist on Thursday, while LaTech lost at San Jose State 88-87.

The Bulldogs arrived yesterday afternoon and elected not to practice to keep their legs fresh for tonight's game.

Although Millsap continues to rack up impressive statistics, LaTech coach Keith Richard said the key for the Bulldogs is finding more production from the rest of the lineup.

"It's been tough because our other players have struggled so much, it's put (Millsap) more in the spotlight," Richard said. "We play better when we have more balance on offense. There are times where we've asked him to be Superman and he hasn't been able to do that all the time. It's been frustrating for him, but we're working at it."

Guard Corey Dean, who hit the game-winning shot against UH last year, is second on the team with 11.2 ppg. Center Wayne Powell and guard Donell Allick are next at 9.6. Guard Daevon Haskins ranks second in the WAC with 5.7 assists per game.

"Powell's good -- he puts the ball on the floor, he shoots 3s, he's got power inside, he's a good all-around player," Wallace said. "And if their perimeter people get hot they can play with anybody."

The Rainbows expect a physical battle in the paint as the Bulldogs look to work the ball to Millsap and Powell.

"(Millsap's) definitely a workhorse," Gipson said. "He tries to pin and seal down low and if he catches it, you're beat -- he's going to score or he's going to draw the foul. So I've got my work cut out for me.

"I just want to keep him off the glass and make him earn every rebound he gets."

The Rainbows are the stingiest team in the WAC, giving up an average of 60.3 points per game, and have controlled the boards in their last two games. UH outrebounded San Jose State and SMU by a total of 84-58.

Their work on the glass helped spark quick starts in both games as they turned defensive rebounds into transition buckets.

"We have to rebound with them, no question about that, and we've got to get some fast-break points," Wallace said.