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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team gave a spirited effort for 40 minutes but ultimately fell short in a 65-60 slugfest to Louisiana Tech Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the Western Athletic Conference with the loss.

 

The Bulldogs (18-3, 6-1 WAC) pulled away from the Rainbow Warriors midway through the second-half and held off a late UH rally to move into sole possession of first-place in the WAC. UH, meanwhile, remained in seventh place in what was their second straight disheartening home loss.  

 

Magnum Rolle led the Bulldogs with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while Jamel Guyton also added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. UH held leading scoring Kyle Gibson to just 5-of-19 shooting, though Gibson finished with 19 points.

 

Brandon Adams led UH with a career-high 20 point, his fourth straight game in double digits. The senior also added a team-high nine rebounds. Roderick Flemings chipped in 17 points and six rebounds.

 

UH committed a season-low five turnovers but was done in by poor shooting. UH shot just 37 percent for the game, including a season-worst 1-of-13 from 3-point land.  The 'Bows were also out-rebounded by the Bulldogs, 43-32.

 

The first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than six points. Louisiana Tech eventually took a 31-30 lead at the break. Hawai`i held a three-point lead early in the second half, but La Tech went on a decisive 19-7 to make it 54-45—the biggest lead of the game by either team.  

 

UH was in catch-up mode for the final five minutes and got at close as two points, 61-59, on a Jeremy Lay layup with 33.8 seconds left. But UH failed to score on two of its last three possessions and Gibson sealed the win with four straight free throws for La Tech.

 

UH now heads to the road for a pair of games, starting with a meeting against San Jose State on Thursday, Jan. 28. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. PT at Walt McPherson Court (5:00 p.m. HT).