An early shot to the mouth hasn't discouraged the Hawaii men's basketball team.

The Rainbow Warriors held a short but spirited practice yesterday following Friday night's tough 75-70 season-opening loss at home to San Francisco.

Coach Bob Nash highlighted the team's shortcomings through film. Some of the deficiencies were ball movement - Hawaii assisted on only eight baskets - and rebounding, an area the Rainbows were confident in at the season's outset.

But the players didn't sulk when it was time to get back to work.

The 'Bows (0-1) meet Cal State Fullerton (0-1) in the finale of the Verizon Wireless Tip-Off Classic today at 5 p.m.

“;I thought the guys came in, lifted their chins, lifted their heads, and looked to tomorrow,”; Nash said. “;We were disappointed in our overall play. I mean, we had moments, but those moments weren't long enough.”;

All five starters - Kareem Nitoto, Lasha Parghalava, Roderick Flemings, Bill Amis and Petras Balocka - scored in double figures, but UH got no bench production whatsoever.

Nitoto scored 14, but the glaring problem was he had no assists in running the point. And he'll be counted on even more, as backup Hiram Thompson is out after tweaking his hamstring injury against the Dons.

“;I'm feeling like (the USF game) is out the way,”; Nitoto, a sophomore, said. “;We have to focus on this next game. We can't dwell on anything that happened. We have to chalk this up and move on.”;

He wasn't concerned about the extra load he'd have to carry with Thompson unavailable.

“;I feel that it's the same with or without Hiram,”; he said. “;I still have to run the team. That's just it, I have to run my team.”;

Nash said Parghalava and freshman walk-on Leroy Lutu Jr. could help share the load. He also tossed out the versatile Flemings as a possibility.

Forward Paul Campbell was one of five players to see time off the bench. To him, if the team can stay consistent defensively, the offense will take care of itself.

“;I think right now we're focusing too much on the shots we're missing, but we should be focusing more on the shots we're letting them take,”; Campbell said. “;It's all gotta start with defense.”;

The CSF Titans battled severe problems of their own in their debut against Texas State - namely, foul trouble. Four players fouled out in the 76-66 loss, including senior guard Josh Akognon, a preseason All-Big West Conference first-team pick.

Fullerton's roster is almost entirely new; only Akognon (20.2 points per game) and backcourt mate Marcio Lassiter return from the team that went 24-9, won the Big West, and went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years.

Akognon scored just 11 before he fouled out with 15 minutes, 44 seconds to play.

“;I hope it was a freak game and we're not just bad,”; said CSF coach Bob Burton. “;The first half, we put basketball back probably 50 years. Honestly in my six years at Fullerton that might have been the worst first half I've ever had a team play.”;