With a newfound approach to postseason games, the Rainbow Warriors are looking to continue their success in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament against Nebraska tomorrow.

"Things weren't going our way for a while at the end of the season, so once we found out we got in the NIT, we all got together and decided to just make this a fun thing," said senior guard Michael Kuebler. "We looked at it like there was no pressure on us, so let's just go out and let it fly."

Now, the 'Bows — and their fans — are flying high.

Tomorrow's game became an official sellout yesterday, the first in the Stan Sheriff Center in two years. The arena capacity is listed at 10,300.

"I expect it to be a great atmosphere for college basketball," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Now let's hope we can go out and beat Nebraska."

The 'Bows upset No. 25 Utah State last Wednesday at Logan, Utah, thus earning a surprise return home.

The Cornhuskers have already played two NIT games — they beat Creighton in a play-in game last Tuesday, then beat Niagara in a first-round game two days later. They were stuck in Nebraska yesterday, and will not arrive in Hono-lulu until late this afternoon.

"We don't have much time to get the wagons over the Rockies," Nebraska head coach Barry Collier said. "But I don't think it's as much of a factor as some are making it out to be. When you're young, 19 to 22 years old, you tend to be very resilient."

The 'Bows are not expecting it to be easy.

Nebraska is 18-12, and 10 of its losses came in the rugged Big 12 Conference. Among the teams the Cornhuskers beat this season are Missouri, Kansas and Texas Tech.

"It's going to be a difficult game for us, just looking at the match-ups," Wallace said.

Nebraska averaged 70.0 points per game this season, even though no player averaged more than 13.2.

Nate Johnson, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, leads the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game. Seven other players average between 4.7 and 11.0.

"They run a lot of different sets," Wallace said. "I would say they're similar to Utah State, except they're bigger and more athletic."

Hawai'i is 20-11, including 13-3 at home this season. Tomorrow's game will also be Senior Night II, with Kuebler, Jason Carter, Paul Jesinskis, Phil Martin and Haim Shimonovich playing in the Sheriff Center for the final time.

Kuebler, Carter, Martin and Shimonovich are expected to start tomorrow, and Jesinskis will play a key reserve role.

"It's the same deal," Kuebler said. "We're not going to put any more pressure on ourselves because of all the stuff going on. It's another chance to go out and have fun playing basketball."

As Shimonovich put it: "How can you be nervous when you're having fun? I think we're more excited than anything."

• Unsung senior: Brian McMullen, Hawai'i's student manager, will graduate in May, so he will also be appearing on the UH bench for the last time tomorrow.

"The guys treat him like one of the players," Wallace said. "He's quiet and unassuming and he always gets the work done — one of the best we've ever had."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.

Boise State advances to second round, 73-70

Associated Press

NAMPA, Idaho — Aaron Haynes scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Coby Karl made two free throws with 13 seconds left to lead Boise State to a 73-70 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee last night in the first round of the NIT.

Boise State (23-9), which will play Marquette on Tuesday, led by 14 with 12:23 left before Wisconsin-Milwaukee (20-11) ran off 12 straight points to pull to 58-56 with 8:32 remaining.

The Broncos responded with a 10-3 run to take a 68-59 lead with 3:24 left.

But the Panthers stayed close, and after 3-pointers by Dylan Page and Ed McCants, Boise State led by just one with 29 seconds remaining.

Karl made his foul shots with 13.2 seconds left, and a final shot attempt by McCants was no good.

Page led Wisconsin-Milwaukee with 23 points.

Boise State led 44-32 at halftime.

National Invitation Tournament

Hawai'i times

First Round

Yesterday

• Boise State 73, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 70

Second Round

Yesterday

• Villanova 73, Virginia 63

Tomorrow

• Notre Dame (18-12) vs. St. Louis (19-12), at Fort Wayne, Ind., 2 p.m.
• West Virginia (17-13) at Rutgers (17-12), 2:30 p.m.
• Oklahoma (20-10) at Michigan (19-11), 4 p.m.
• Nebraska (18-12) at Hawai'i (20-11), 6 p.m.

Tuesday

• Oregon (16-12) vs. George Mason (23-9), 6:30 p.m.
• Iowa State (18-12) at Florida State (19-13), TBA
• Marquette (18-11) vs. Boise State (23-9), TBA

Quarterfinals, March 24-26

Semifinals, March 30