On Hawaii's night of musical quarterbacks, Greg Alexander more than earned the final chair.

The seldom-used junior started the second half for Hawaii - the third Warrior signal-caller to enter the game - and drove his team the length of the field for the game-winning touchdown pass to Malcolm Lane with 20 seconds left for a 38-31 win over Nevada at Aloha Stadium.

In just a half of work, he compiled 205 yards on 17-for-22 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He absorbed three sacks, but also displayed a willingness to run that earned Hawaii a key first down for a 10-yard pickup to the Wolf Pack 33 on the game's final drive.

Hawaii started junior Inoke Funaki and elected to alternate the first several series of the game with senior Tyler Graunke, but coach Greg McMackin went away from the struggling Graunke (0-for-2 with a pick) by the half. Funaki (6-for-12, one pick) guided the Warriors to their first two offensive scores, but he, too, took a seat for good after handing off to David Farmer for a TD to put Hawaii up 24-17 in the third quarter.

“;They told me right before we were heading out of the tunnel (at halftime),”; said the even-keeled Alexander. “;So I was like, 'Oh, all right. Cool, let's do it.' “;

If Alexander had any self-doubt remaining following the season-opening drubbing he took as the Warriors starter in Hawaii's 56-10 loss at Florida, none was evident on the field last night. He was holding out for such an opportunity to provide redemption before the season waned.

“;That's what I was hoping for,”; the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior college transfer said. “;Things went the way they did (Aug. 30 at Gainesville), but I've learned a lot over the past six weeks or whatever it's been. Just taking advantage of the opportunity, I've learned a lot from Inoke, he's done a fantastic job, and Tyler, he's talked to me a lot.”;

He started by getting the Warriors within range of a Dan Kelly field goal for a 17-10 lead, and on his next series hit Mike Washington for a 16-yard TD lob off his back foot for a 31-17 advantage with 14:47 to play.

But Nevada came roaring back to tie things up with 1:29 left, and it was up to Alexander to come through in the clutch.

He hit Ryan Mouton for 16 yards, then Washington on the other sideline for 17 more. He made his big keeper run, but the Warriors, mired at the Nevada 35, burned the last of their timeouts.

Alexander came through again, though, connecting twice with Lane - first for 11 yards, then the huge scoring toss to the back right corner of the end zone from 24 yards out - as fans went ballistic.

“;It's either a touchdown or an incomplete, because we're not going to have the opportunity to stop the clock,”; Alexander said. “;We put it up, and Malcolm made a hell of a catch for the win.”;

Just as redemption was had for Graunke in Hawaii's come-from-behind win against Weber State earlier this season, the storybook finish was complete for Alexander.

“;I just knew Greg would take a shot - there was no other choice but to,”; Lane said. “;We trust in each other, that's our motto. Just how (offensive coordinator Ron) Lee trusted in me to go up and make that play, we trusted each other. Last year it was 'believe,' this year it's 'trust.' “;