Rainbows looking for wins, edge at home

Hawaii goes after first WAC victory against Fresno State

The start of the spring semester on the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus meant a day off from practice for the Rainbow Warrior basketball team yesterday.

And as the players get settled into their academic schedules, they'll face two of their toughest tests of the Western Athletic Conference season later in the week.

After returning from their first WAC road trip at 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference, the Rainbows open the home slate with games against Fresno State (13-2, 2-0) on Thursday and No. 19 Nevada (14-1, 2-0) on Saturday.

Both games are 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We've got some work to do, no question about that," Wallace said yesterday. "We've got to get after it and get ourselves ready."

The team resumes practice today as the 'Bows continue an early four-game WAC stretch that includes three teams picked to finish atop the league. Three-time defending champion Nevada was the preseason favorite, followed by New Mexico State and Fresno State.

After dropping two close road games at NMSU and Louisiana Tech last week, the Rainbows will try to continue the trend of home-court success in the WAC. Home teams improved to 9-0 in WAC play when Nevada held off Boise State 90-86 last night.

Though the WAC race is still in its early stages, holding serve at home could be critical as the Rainbows -- who are 7-1 at the Stan Sheriff Center -- look to keep pace with the leaders as Fresno State, Nevada and New Mexico State head on the road.

For Nevada, Saturday's game at the Sheriff Center will end a stretch of four games in eight days.

"Everybody right now still feels like they have a chance and they're going to go out and get after it," Wallace said, "and this should be a good week, and a telling week for us at home with Fresno and Nevada."

Fan-tastic:

Thursday's game has been designated "Season-ticket holder appreciation night."

Fans who bought season tickets for a UH sport (football, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and baseball) can purchase two upper-level tickets for the price of one, with a maximum of six, to the Fresno State game. Tickets can be purchased at the Stan Sheriff Center ticket office and online at HawaiiAthletics.com.

Saturday's game against Nevada will be "Green and White Night." Fans on the same side as the team benches are encouraged to wear green tops. The side opposite the benches are asked to wear white. Details are available at the UH Web site.