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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 8:57 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2007

Rainbow Warriors rally past Long Beach State, 93-78

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

LONG BEACH, Calif. — It wasn't part of BracketBusters, but the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team busted the home-winning streak of Long Beach State tonight.

The Rainbow Warriors became the first visiting team to win in Walter Pyramid this season, with a 93-78 nonconference victory.

Hawai'i improved to 15-12 overall. The 49ers dropped to 18-7, and 10-1 at home.

Riley Luettgerodt had his best game in a Hawai'i uniform, with 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds. He was one of five Hawai'i players in double-figure points.

Matt Lojeski added 22 points, Ahmet Gueye had 16, Matt Gibson had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Bobby Nash scored 15.

The 'Bows rallied from deficits of 12 points in the first half, nine points in the second half.

The 'Bows converted 31 of 33 free throws (93.9 percent), while the 49ers went 8 of 15 (53.3 percent).

Hawai'i committed 11 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game and fell behind 24-12.

The pace then picked up, and the 'Bows went on a 20-5 surge to take a 32-29 lead with 4:21 remaining in the half.

Hawai'i increased the lead to 37-32, but the 49ers closed the half with a 7-2 run to tie it at 39 at halftime.

Nash scored 13 in the first half, including 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. Luettgerodt came off the bench to score nine points in the first half.

The score was tied at 51 with 14:52 remaining, but the 49ers then pushed ahead with an 11-2 run to take a 62-53 lead with 11:53 left. Aaron Nixon highlighted the surge with a 3-pointer from about 27 feet away.

Hawai'i responded with a 13-0 run to take a 68-63 lead with 8:07 remaining. The run was aided by a technical foul on Nixon for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The 'Bows kept the lead the rest of the way.