EL PASO, Texas » Before a chance meeting this week, Malcolm Lane hadn't seen Darren Mickens since leaving Germany following his high school graduation. But the duo could soon be reunited in Hawaii.

Mickens was a friend of Lane's when their families were stationed in Hanau, Germany. They met up again this week when the Warriors prepared for tomorrow's game at New Mexico State by practicing at Parkland High School, where Mickens is a senior free safety for the Matadors.

“;It's like that in the military,”; said Lane, who didn't know Mickens had moved to El Paso until they ran into each other at the field. “;It's always nice to see people from the past, especially people like that because that's like family. He was one of my real good friends. His mom is a real good lady, she took care of me.”;

Mickens, who measures up at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, said he's been timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40 and could join Lane with the Warriors next year. He said he's considering a scholarship offer to UH along with offers from schools such as UTEP, Colorado and Air Force. He is scheduled to take his official visit to UTEP next week.

Mickens—who held off on the recruiting process until his father returned from a stint in Korea—played varsity football and basketball as a freshman at Hanau American High School and looked up to Lane, who was a senior.

“;Malcolm was like a mentor to him,”; said Toni Mickens, Darren's mother, “;kept him out of trouble and told him what to do to keep his grades up.”;

Speaking of grades ......

Spending 10 days away from school doesn't mean the Warriors have slacked on their studies.

The team has had 2-hour study-hall sessions every day this week, with a double dose on Monday, supervised by tutors Courtney Tsumoto and Amber Tyndzik.

“;They did a great job with study halls, they're pros,”; UH coach Greg McMackin said. “;They made the kids feel like going there, not like they're going to prison or something.”;

Tsumoto is a graduate assistant at the Nagatani Academic Center and is in her fourth season working with the football team. Tyndzik has worked with UH athletes for two years and was called up for the second leg of the two-game road trip.

Tsumoto said the process of coordinating the study halls started two weeks before the team's departure when the players were to coordinate exams and to-do lists with their professors.

“;They knew what they had to get done on the road,”; Tsumoto said. “;They've been motivated in wanting to take care of stuff.”;

Players with grade-point averages under 2.8 are required to attend study halls, though they're open to anyone wanting to get ahead in school.

“;We do teach them study skills as well as concentrating on content,”; Tyndzik said. “;If we don't know it, we teach them resourcefulness and how to look up material.”;

Short yardage

The temperature in El Paso was in the mid-40s when the Warriors began their 8 a.m. practice yesterday. ... The team was given a break from football and studies with a night out at the movies at a nearby mall. ... UH linebacker Viliami Nauahi's appearance on “;Wheel of Fortune”; is scheduled to air today.