Updated at 8:20 p.m., Thursday, February 1, 2007
Rainbow Warriors roll past Fresno State, 54-42
Associated Press
FRESNO, Calif. — Matt Gibson scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help Hawai'i defeat Fresno State 54-42 Thursday night.P.J. Owsley added 12 points and seven rebounds for Hawai'i (13-9, 4-5 Western Athletic Conference), which held the Bulldogs to season-low scoring and shooting totals.
Despite committing 23 turnovers, the Rainbow Warriors were in complete control after a late first-half surge to earn its first road victory of the season in seven tries.
Dominic McGuire had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Fresno State (15-7, 4-5 WAC), which shot a season-low 23.6 percent from the field and went 1-of-24 from 3-point range. Quinton Hosley added nine points and 14 rebounds for Fresno State, and Kevin Bell had seven points and nine steals.
With leading scorer Matt Lojeski battling the flu and main post threat Ahmet Gueye in foul trouble, Gibson picked up the scoring slack. The junior point guard finished 7-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Forced to play at the Rainbow Warriors' deliberate pace, Fresno State scored only two points in the final 13:01 before intermission. Hawai'i closed the first half with a 14-0 scoring run and led 27-12 at halftime.
The Bulldogs have lost five of seven WAC games after a promising 12-2 start.
HAWAI'I 54, FRESNO ST. 42
HAWAI'I (13-9) — Owsley 6-15 0-0 12, Gueye 3-7 0-0 6, Gibson 7-14 2-2 19, Lojeski 3-9 0-0 6, Nash 2-8 2-2 7, Lowenthal 0-0 0-0 0, Waters 0-4 0-0 0, Luettgerodt 0-0 0-0 0, Verwers 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 23-61 4-4 54.
FRESNO ST. (15-7) — McGuire 4-12 3-6 11, Hosley 3-11 3-9 9, Hernandez 1-4 0-0 2, Bell 2-6 3-7 7, Miller 2-15 2-2 6, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Riding 0-0 0-0 0, Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Coleman 1-7 4-4 7. Totals 13-55 15-28 42.
Halftime—Hawaii 27-12. 3-Point Goals—Hawaii 4-14 (Gibson 3-5, Nash 1-4, Waters 0-1, Lojeski 0-4), Fresno St. 1-24 (Coleman 1-5, McGuire 0-2, Hernandez 0-3, Hosley 0-4, Miller 0-10). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Hawaii 43 (Gibson 9), Fresno St. 46 (Hosley 14). Assists—Hawaii 15 (Lojeski, Nash 3), Fresno St. 4 (Bell 2). Total Fouls—Hawaii 24, Fresno St. 13. A—11,768.
