Imagine getting some spoiled Christmas cookies at this time of year.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team knows what that feels like, and the Rainbow Warriors have a bitter taste in their mouths right now.

For the first time since 1995, Hawai'i will be playing in the consolation bracket of its own Rainbow Classic.

The 'Bows will host St. John's today at the Stan Sheriff Center at 11 a.m. The game will not be televised, but will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio (1420 AM).

Today is the third of four days of the 44th annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. Hawai'i will also have to play a non-televised game in the afternoon tomorrow, regardless of today's outcome.

"There's nobody more disappointed than we are," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "But we're hoping the fans still come out and support us. I know it's a work day, but maybe people can take a lunch break because we could use the support."

Louisiana-Lafayette stunned Hawai'i, 61-59, on Wednesday night, sending the 'Bows to the lonely consolation bracket.

Hawai'i, which dropped to 3-5, shot a season-low 38.2 percent from the field in the loss, including a paltry 13.3 percent (2 of 15) from 3-point range.

"They took us out of some things," Nash said. "But we still had good shots. We just didn't make them. It wasn't so much that as it was some of the other little things."

Nash was particularly disturbed at getting out-rebounded, 42-41, by the Ragin' Cajuns. He especially didn't like ULL's 20 offensive rebounds.

"We can't let that happen, ever," Nash said. "When you don't guard people, don't box out for rebounds, you're not going to win games."

When the brackets were announced for this year's Rainbow Classic, it appeared Hawai'i and St. John's were set up for a meeting in the semifinals. Instead, the Red Storm and 'Bows are fighting to stay out of tomorrow's last-place game.

Ohio beat St. John's, 71-69, in Wednesday's first game. It was the third consecutive loss for the Red Storm (4-3).

"We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves," Nash said. "St. John's is a very good team with great athletes — some who will probably play at the next level. They could be one of the best teams we see all year long."

But St. John's is also coming off a heartbreaker — one of the most exciting finishes in Rainbow Classic history.

A total of 23 points were scored by Ohio and St. John's in the final 68 seconds of the game.

The Red Storm's Eugene Lawrence drained a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining to tie it at 69. Without calling a timeout, Ohio's Bubba Walther then threw a length-of-the-court pass to Leon Williams for the winning layup with 0.2 seconds remaining.

Nash stayed in his office for several hours after Wednesday's loss to study video of St. John's.

"I got some sleep, but not very well," he said.

Same for his son. Moments after the loss to ULL, Bobby Nash returned to the Sheriff Center to shoot baskets. He scored a season-low 10 points — seven below his average — against the Cajuns.

The 'Bows went through a two-hour practice yesterday, and then Nash preached the importance of staying strong.

"There's no magic formula for this," he said. "We just have to rally and have all 14 guys on this team stick together."

NOTES

Larry Wright, a 6-2 sophomore guard, leads the Red Storm in scoring with 13.6 points per game. Justin Burrell, a 6-8 freshman, is contributing 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Seven of the 11 players who saw action for St. John's against Ohio were freshman.

Rob Thomas, a 6-6, 235-pound freshman, played his first collegiate game for St. John's on Wednesday. He missed the first six games while recuperating from knee surgery.

Bobby Nash leads Hawai'i in scoring with 16.1 points per game, and rebounding with 6.3 per game. Riley Luettgerodt is second in scoring with 15.0 per game.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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