With its 71-70 loss yesterday before 2,026 at Thomas Assembly Center, Hawai'i has now lost six WAC games by a total of 12 points, including three losses in the final six seconds.

"It's crazy to think about what could be," said senior guard Jake Sottos, who led the 'Bows with 23 points. "It comes down to who wants it more."

The 'Bows (13-6 overall, 5-6 WAC) will feel the sting of this one for a while. After falling behind by 10 points at halftime, Hawai'i rallied valiantly in the second half and held a five-point lead with 2:12 left in the game.

But the final two minutes proved to be disastrous. The 'Bows not only failed to score the rest of the way, but Deonte Tatum was whistled for a foul on Tech's Paul Millsap with 4.0 seconds left and the score tied at 70.

Millsap hit the first free throw, but missed the second. Tatum then missed a desperation 3-pointer as time expired, giving the Bulldogs (12-9, 7-5) a regular-season sweep of Hawai'i. Wayne Powell's putback with 3.3 seconds remaining gave Tech a 61-59 win in Honolulu on Jan. 15.

After Millsap made the first free throw, Tech head coach Keith Richard called a timeout to set his defense.

During the timeout, Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace erupted on the sidelines regarding the foul on Tatum. Wallace spent the entire timeout yelling at referee Mike Thibodeaux.

"We're going to check the film, but there's not many officials that would make that call," Wallace said. "Most officials will tell you, 'I'm not going to win the game on a cheap call,' and that was a cheap call."

The foul came after Millsap picked off an errant Hawai'i pass and lumbered down court through the Hawai'i defense.

The 'Bows had the ball with 32.5 seconds and the score tied at 70. They tried to work for a go-ahead shot, but a pass by "Big Matt" Gipson intended for Jeff Blackett in the lane was tipped and Millsap grabbed the ball.

"He just didn't get the pass and I was able to get the ball," said Millsap, who had game-highs of 29 points 13 rebounds. "By the time I got control of it, all I had time to do was look up and put the ball up."

Millsap made his way to the top of the Hawai'i lane and was about to shoot when Tatum was called for reaching in.

"You don't like to decide a game with a foul late in the game," said "Little Matt" Gibson, who scored 15 points. "That call's not usually made ... but what's done is done."

That Hawai'i was in position to win the game in the last seconds was a mini-victory in itself. Tech, which has now won six of seven games, played a near flawless first half. The Bulldogs shot 63 percent from the floor and Millsap scored 21 points and had nine rebounds as Tech took a 41-31 lead at the break.

"That guy is a monster," Gibson said. "He's a big dude, and it seems like all the rebounds go to him."

Meanwhile, the 'Bows shot just 37.1 percent from the field and got out-rebounded by seven in the first half.

"We got our licking in the locker with coach," Sottos said. "We just didn't come out ready."

The 'Bows rallied behind the shooting of Sottos and Gibson. Hawai'i opened the second half with a 15-2 run to take a momentary 46-43 lead.

Sottos and Gibson combined to score 26 of Hawai'i's 39 points in the second half. Sottos shot 9 of 15 from the field overall, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range.

"I was feeling my shot," Sottos said. "I got in a zone and when I do my eyes light up."

Hawai'i also did a better job on Millsap in the second half and forced Tech to shoot 28.6 percent after halftime. But the 'Bows couldn't close the deal, going scoreless on five consecutive possessions to end the game, squandering a 70-65 lead.

Tech made 22 of 32 free throws, including 6 of 8 in the final two minutes. In contrast, Hawai'i was 4 of 6 on free throws for the entire game.