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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:18 p.m., Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Utah State tops UH in men's basketball, 58-50

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawaii men's basketball team once again came up frustratingly short in a Western Athletic Conference game.

Utah State defeated the Rainbow Warriors, 58-50, today in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at Logan, Utah.

Hawaii dropped to 14-12 overall and into seventh place in the conference at 5-8. Utah State improved to 19-7 and 8-4 with its 14th consecutive home victory.

Stephen DuCharme scored 15 points to lead the Aggies. Jaycee Carroll, the WAC's leading scorer, was held to 11 points — 10 below his average.

Matt Lojeski led the 'Bows with 16 points, and Ahmet Gueye added 15.

Utah State committed a season-high 25 turnovers, but Hawaii could not capitalize. The 'Bows shot just 35.7 percent from the field, including 2 of 18 from 3-point range.

"We didn't shoot the ball," Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace said. "Fatigue gets you, and when you get a little fatigued, then your legs go out and legs affect your shooting."

The Aggies also out-rebounded Hawaii, 42-27.

"You're not going to win games getting beat on the boards like that," Wallace said.

The Aggies led by as many as eight points in the first half, and eventually took a 27-22 advantage at intermission.

Utah State took the lead despite committing 15 turnovers in the first half. However, Hawaii could not take advantage, shooting just 39.3 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range.

The Aggies increased the lead to 41-31 early in the second half, and then held off the 'Bows the rest of the way.

Hawaii got as close as three points, but Utah State put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run that increased the lead to 54-43 with 3:59 remaining.