Too bad you don't get a medal for playing teams better the second time around.

Hawaii continues to narrow the gap between itself and the top teams in the Western Athletic Conference, but the difference isn't coming where it counts — the league standings.

New Mexico State withstood a second-half Rainbow Wahine surge to win 75-67 before a gathering of 506 last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH (9-14, 3-7 WAC) dropped into eighth place but still enjoys a two-win lead over San Jose State to remain out of last. NMSU (16-8, 6-4) remained in fourth by beating Hawaii for the sixth time in the last seven meetings, including four of the last five in Honolulu.

Julita Bungaite hit a corner 3-pointer to bring UH within 66-64 with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left, and after NMSU's Crystal Boyd made one of two free throws, Bungaite put in a reverse layup on a backdoor cut from Breanna Arbuckle at the 2:30 mark to cut NMSU's lead to 67-66.

But the Wahine shot 0-for-6 to close the game, while the Aggies went 6-for-8 at the free-throw line to seal it.

“;You take a look at our team and we're down 19 in the first half. We still were able to come back in the game,”; UH coach Dana Takahara-Dias said. “;I tell you that's the heart and soul of this team, having a chance to win it at the end. We've dug ourselves many holes this year, deep ones ... but nowdays it's refreshing because we finish strong.”;

Arbuckle led UH with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while Bungaite and Allie Patterson added 11 points apiece. Keisha Kanekoa had 10 points with six boards.

“;I'd say we just have to have a better start. If we have a better start, then we'll be OK,”; Arbuckle said.

The game's flow followed the pattern of UH's 73-51 loss in Las Cruces, N.M., last month. UH fell far behind in the first half then played the Aggies stronger in the second half.

Once again, it wasn't enough, despite 47.3 percent shooting and allowing just one of NMSU's six 3-pointers after halftime.

UH wasted no time cutting into the deficit in the second half behind increased pressure and effective ball movement. The Wahine outscored the Aggies 22-8, forcing a timeout.

The visitors' biggest stop came on a Boyd block of Kanekoa at the basket that would have made it a one-point game again with under a minute to play.

The Wahine leave today for a three-games-in-five-days road trip to Idaho, Nevada and San Jose State.

Key — fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; rb: rebounds; pf: personal fouls; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.

Halftime — New Mexico State 46, Hawaii 32

3-point goals — New Mexico State 6-18 (Spence 3-5, Soto 1-2, Corbett 1-4, Lowe 1-5, Boyd 0-1, Rosen 0-1), Hawaii 4-10 (Galdones 2-2, Patterson 1-1, Bungaite 1-2, Liepkalne 0-1, Kanekoa 0-4).

Steals — New Mexico State 9 (Lowe 3, Spence 3, Boyd 1, Rosen 1, Soto 1), Hawaii 4 (Kanekoa 2, Galdones, Bungaite). Blocked shots — New Mexico State 4 (Boyd 4), Hawaii 5 (Arbuckle 3, Liepkalne, Patterson).

Officials — Lucy Banuelos, Ken Nash, Brian Yamasaki. A— 506.