A crowd of 4,497 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors snap a two-game losing streak to improve to 5-4. The Demons, who were an NCAA Tournament second-round team last season, dropped to 5-5.

Bobby Nash had his best game in his three seasons at UH, setting career-highs with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Three other 'Bows reached double-figure points: Matt Lojeski led the team with 23, Riley Luettgerodt had a career-high 15, and Matt Gibson contributed 14.

Hawai'i led from start to finish to beat Northwestern State for the second consecutive season.

The 'Bows took control early with a 14-0 run to take a 23-5 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Nash capped the surge with two 3-pointers in a 20-second span.

Hawai'i increased the lead to 33-13 with 5:48 remaining. At that stage of the game, the Demons made just 3 of 23 field goals (13 percent).

The 'Bows took a 36-23 lead at intermission, with Nash scoring 16 points.

The Demons got back in it briefly with a 14-6 run to open the second half. After a dismal first half, Northwestern State went 6 of 7 from the field in the first four minutes of the second half.

The Demons got as close as 42-37, but the 'Bows regained a comfortable lead at 57-37 with a 15-0 run. Lojeski scored eight points during the surge.

Northwestern State head coach Mike McConathy was assessed two technical fouls for arguing with the referees in the second half. After his second technical, McConathy was ejected from the game and sent to the locker room with 11:50 remaining.

Luke Rogers led the Demons with 21 points.

Northwestern State played without 6-9 forward Trey Gilder and 6-7 forward Jermaine Spencer. Gilder leads the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game, but he was not in uniform because of a fractured left hand. Spencer is a starter who averages 8.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, but he did not play because of a heel injury.

What's more, reserve forward Demetrius Bell left the game late in the first half with what appeared to be a knee injury.