Gibson, ’Bows stagger Aggies

STORY SUMMARY »

The Hawaii basketball team enjoyed its most productive evening of the season and moved within a game of the leaders in the Western Athletic Conference with a 94-71 win over New Mexico State last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawaii    NMSU 94 71 NEXT UP vs. Louisiana Tech tomorrow

Matt Gibson led four Hawaii players in double figures with 20 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 9-11 and 5-3 in WAC play. NMSU fell to 11-12 and 5-3.

Jared Dillinger hit five 3-pointers on his way to a career-best 19.

The Rainbows forced 24 turnovers to help fuel their highest scoring game of the season.

Hawaii led by as many as 18 in the first half, ignited by a defense that swiped seven steals, and led 43-29 at halftime.

Hawaii's homestand continues tomorrow against Louisiana Tech.

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Hawaii bucked a couple of trends last night on its way to the Rainbow Warriors' most productive game of the season.

They ended a four-game losing streak on "White Out" night at the Stan Sheriff Center while picking up only the program's second win over New Mexico State in the history of the series with a convincing 94-71 rout of the Aggies.

More importantly, a crowd of 3,485 saw the Rainbows topple a team ahead of them in the Western Athletic Conference and move within a game of the league leaders with their highest scoring night of the season.

"I give my team credit for giving a great effort," UH coach Bob Nash said. "The hustle was there on every single play.

"I thought our guys did a really nice job of handling pressure and staying focused on what we needed to get done to be successful."

Hawaii guard Matt Gibson controlled the action for the Rainbows in leading four UH players in double figures with 20 points while dishing out a career-high 11 assists.

"Shoot, it's not me, it's these guys knocking down shots," Gibson said. "Shooters shoot, and that's what our shooters are capable of doing."

UH senior Jared Dillinger led the barrage by hitting a career-best five of UH's 11 3-pointers on his way to 19 points. Riley Luettgerodt went 8-for-8 from the foul line and finished with 17 points. Bobby Nash added 16.

Dillinger twice halted NMSU runs in the second half with key 3-pointers.

"Matt makes it really easy. He sets it up really nice, so I was just trying to find the open spot and just shoot it," Dillinger said.

The win edged the Rainbows (9-11, 5-3 WAC) closer to WAC leaders Utah State and Boise State. NMSU dropped to 11-12 and is 5-3 in league play as well.

There was concern for senior forward P.J. Owsley, who had to be helped from the court at the 15:03 mark of the second half with a right knee injury. He returned to the bench late in the contest with an ice pack on the knee.

Nash said Owsley's status is day-to-day entering tomorrow's game against Louisiana Tech.

"I don't think it's anything serious. We'll do all the precautionary things of making sure," Nash said.

With Bill Amis' minutes limited by foul trouble, it forced lightly used sophomore Paul Campbell to contribute 12 valuable minutes, three points and a second-half block that started a fast break during UH's decisive run.

Hawaii turned defense into offense to take a 43-29 lead into halftime.

The Rainbows led by as many as 18, in large part to a defensive effort that limited the Aggies' looks at the basket.

Both teams shot 50 percent from the field. The difference was that Hawaii took 34 shots to NMSU's 20. Hawaii forced 14 first-half turnovers -- jumping into the passing lanes to produce seven steals -- and converted Aggie miscues into 15 points.

"That was the story of the game," NMSU coach Marvin Menzies said. "The points off of turnovers just gave them the momentum they needed."

After UH edged to a 23-19 lead, Gibson ignited the Rainbows with three steals in a 16-3 run, accounting for five points and four assists in the spurt.

NMSU cut the lead to 10 at 57-47 with 10 minutes left. But a Dillinger trey from the top sent the Rainbows on a 13-2 run. He capped the spurt by coming up with a steal and feeding Gibson for a fast-break layup to give UH a 21-point cushion at 70-49.

NMSU, which was coming off a 100-70 win over Utah State last weekend, was led by center Hatila Passos' career-high 25 points.

Heralded NMSU freshman Herb Pope scored four quick points, but also picked up two fouls less than 5 minutes into the game. He came on in the second half to finish with 16, before fouling out with 4:34 left.