Thanks to a one-point victory over San Jose State last night, the Rainbow Warriors can still make that claim. The 'Bows held off the scrappy Spartans, 56-55, to take a half-game lead over Texas-El Paso atop the conference standings.

"It's always good, no matter what, when you win," said Hawai'i sophomore forward Julian Sensley.

A crowd of 7,002 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows improve to 16-4 overall and 8-2 in the WAC. The Spartans lost their 12th consecutive game to drop to 5-15 overall and 0-10 in the conference.

If last night was any indication, the difference between first and last place in the WAC is minimal.

"They're just tough; they don't give up," UH senior center Haim Shimonovich said of the Spartans.

Last season, San Jose State upset Hawai'i, 55-54, in the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I guess we owed them one," UH senior guard Michael Kuebler said.

Kuebler led the 'Bows with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Sensley added 13 points and five rebounds, and Shimonovich had 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting, and nine rebounds.

Despite the narrow final margin, Hawai'i actually stayed in the lead for the entire 40 minutes.

"We did what ever we had to do to keep that lead," UH head coach Riley Wallace said.

Logan Lee's two free throws with 5.7 seconds remaining proved to be the clinching points that put Hawai'i ahead, 56-53.

"I'm always on (Lee) about him being a choker," Wallace said. "I thought he'd look over and smile at me after he made 'em."

Lee said: "I was thinking this is my chance. Coach was a little mad at me earlier this year when I missed some free throws in a tight game, so I told him I wasn't going to miss any more."

San Jose State's Bim Okunrinboye missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Demetrius Brown put back the miss just before the buzzer for the final margin.

San Jose State head coach Phil Johnson said "there was a lot of contact there" on Okunrinboye's final attempt to tie the game.

Lee, who was defending the shot, responded: "They all claim it's a foul when they miss. I didn't even touch him."

Prior to the final frantic seconds, Hawai'i appeared to maintain control of the game throughout.

Hawai'i led by as many as nine in the first half, and eight in the second half, but the methodical Spartans refused to give in.

On most of its possessions, San Jose State drained the 35-second shot clock down to 10 seconds before attacking. Most of the Spartans' points came off driving layups, or putbacks off those missed layups.

As Kuebler put it: "They make you play 35 seconds of defense every (possession). It's tough to stay into it that long."

Hawai'i took a 26-22 lead at intermission, and the first half ended on what proved to be a crucial call. Brown hit a shot at the buzzer that was ruled a two-point basket, although the Spartan coaches argued that it was a 3-pointer. Officials confirmed with television replays that the shot was worth two points.

"It's like we're snake-bit," Johnson said.

Despite not using a player taller than 6 feet 7, the Spartans out-rebounded Hawai'i, 31-23. The Spartans also kept the UH guards at bay, preventing any fastbreak points by the 'Bows.

"There are no moral victories, but I'm pleased with the effort," Johnson said of his Spartans.

Eric Walton, the Spartans' leading scorer and rebounder, did not play last night because he was ill. At 6-8, he is also the tallest player on the roster.

"I thought about putting him in," Johnson said. "But the game was very physical ... and I didn't think he was physically ready to match that kind of energy."

Johnson credited Sensley for making a difference for Hawai'i in the second half. Among Sensley's highlights were two spectacular alley-oop dunks and a no-look, behind-the-head assist to Phil Martin.

Marquin Chandler led the Spartans with 19 points and nine rebounds. He scored 15 and shot 6 of 7 from the field in the second half. His only miss of the second half was a 3-point attempt that could have tied the game at 54.

Hawai'i will remain at home for a WAC game on Thursday against Louisiana Tech.