Posted at 9:19 p.m., Thursday, December 27, 2007
Rainbows fall to New Mexico in men's basketball
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Faris scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Lobos to a 79-69 victory over Hawaii tonight.
A crowd of 3,176 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors lose their fourth consecutive home game to drop to 3-8. The Lobos improved to 12-2.
The last time a Hawaii team lost four consecutive games in the Sheriff Center was during the 1998-99 season.
It was New Mexico's second victory over Hawaii this season. Faris, who scored 16 in New Mexico's 89-60 victory at Albuquerque, N.M., last month, had the two highest scoring games of his career against Hawaii.
Matt Gibson led the 'Bows with 19 points, Bobby Nash added 18, and Riley Luettgerodt added 11.
Hawaii opened the game with a 3-pointer by Nash, and jumped to an 11-4 lead. The Lobos went on a 13-3 run midway through the first half to take a 19-15 lead with 8:10 remaining. New Mexico kept the lead the rest of the game.
The Lobos closed the first half with a 15-6 run to take a 38-28 lead at intermission.
New Mexico increased the lead to 12 early in the second half, but the 'Bows cut it to 58-54 with 6:24 remaining on a 3-pointer by Nash.
The Lobos pushed the lead back up to nine in the closing minutes, but Nash kept the 'Bows close with his 3-point shooting. His sixth 3 of the game cut New Mexico's lead to 70-67 with 1:37 remaining.
That was as close as it would get, as Hawaii would not make another field goal.
