A small lineup came up big for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team last night.

Without starting center Ahmet Gueye, the Rainbow Warriors defeated Tennessee-Martin, 66-53.

A crowd of 4,127 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows improve to 9-4 with their fifth consecutive victory. The Skyhawks dropped to 3-11 with their fourth consecutive loss.

"It could easily be a seven- or eight-game winning streak if you look at it," Hawai'i forward Riley Luettgerodt said. "I think we're on a good roll, playing our best basketball of the season."

Hawai'i was not at its best last night, but the overmatched Skyhawks proved to be the perfect remedy for the post-Rainbow Classic blahs.

"Too many turnovers, but the right kind of game for us after the Rainbow Classic and before we go on the road," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said.

With Gueye out to rest his injured right knee, Luettgerodt made his first start in a Hawai'i uniform a memorable one.

The 6-foot-5 junior had career-highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead the 'Bows. He shot 7 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 on free throws, and his 13 rebounds were the most by a Hawai'i player this season.

"I thought Riley Luettgerodt coming in getting 17 and 13, obviously he felt comfortable with the starting position," Wallace said.

Luettgerodt said: "I just got comfortable and started playing and a lot of balls started bouncing my way it seemed like, so I just grabbed them. I'm just trying to show (Wallace) I can earn minutes where ever that is. Show him I'm reliable coming off the bench or what ever situation."

The 6-8 Gueye leads the 'Bows in rebounding with 7.6 per game, but Hawai'i still out-rebounded the Skyhawks last night, 45-36.

Without Gueye, Hawai'i started 6-8 P.J. Owsley at center, 6-6 Bobby Nash at power forward, Luettgerodt at small forward, 6-6 Matt Lojeski at shooting guard, and 6-5 Matt Gibson at point guard.

"I was concerned with Gueye out ... I've used the small lineup before, but I haven't started the small lineup," Wallace said. "So there was a little anxiety in my stomach before the game."

But all five starters eased his pain by contributing to the winning effort.

Nash finished with 14 points and nine rebounds while playing just 20 minutes.

"Bobby Nash did a good job," Wallace said. "He was really trying to play the (UTM) guys as physical as he could. He was doing a good job out there."

Lojeski, who was averaging 25 points per game in his previous four games, scored just nine last night, but passed for a team-high seven assists.

Gibson added nine points and five rebounds, and Owsley had nine points and three rebounds.

"Looking in size-wise, all of a sudden I thought we might have an advantage to get some stuff done close to the basket," UTM head coach Bret Campbell said. "And at times we did, but not consistent enough."

Hawai'i's new starting lineup raced to an 8-2 lead to open the game, and never looked back. A 14-8 surge by the 'Bows increased the lead to 28-14 with 6:42 remaining in the first half.

Gibson drained a 3-pointer just before the first half ended to give Hawai'i a 39-26 lead at intermission.

The Skyhawks got as close as nine early in the second half, but Hawai'i went on an 11-0 run to push the lead up to 54-34 with 10:51 remaining. UTM cut it to 13 in the closing minutes, but that was as close as it would get.

"(UTM) played hard the whole game and that's what we needed because it was basically a tune-up game for the Western Athletic Conference," Nash said.

Zerek Knight led the Skyhawks with 12 points.

UTM shot 34.4 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers.

"It continues to haunt us night in and night out," Campbell said. "We're not a very effective offensive team."

Hawai'i shot 45.2 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers.

Hawai'i also played without senior guard John Wilder, who sat out with flu-like symptoms. Otherwise, all 12 players in uniform saw action for the 'Bows.

Wallace said he expects Gueye to return to practices this weekend, and be available for the upcoming WAC games.

Up next for Hawai'i is the opening of the WAC season. The 'Bows will play at New Mexico State on Jan. 4, and at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 6.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.