The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team has had its share of travel difficulties in the Western Athletic Conference this season.

So it makes sense that opponents would have similar problems traveling to Honolulu to play the Rainbow Warriors.

The 'Bows took advantage of it against San Jose State on Thursday, and would like to do it again when they host Utah State on Monday.

"We have to win the rest of our home games," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We can't afford to give up any more. The schedule is what it is. It's tough for everybody, so the key is to win your home games when things are in your favor."

Hawai'i will prepare for Utah State by practicing Saturday and Sunday.

The Aggies, meanwhile, have a road game at first-place Nevada on Saturday night. They hope to arrive in Honolulu in time for a Sunday evening practice.

"The only thing you can do in the WAC is go play your games and don't cry about it because everybody is going to have a tough trip at least once or twice this year," Wallace said.

Hawai'i defeated San Jose State, 72-52, on Thursday to improve to 11-9 overall and 2-5 in the WAC.

As more proof of the wacky WAC schedule, San Jose State practiced at UH on Friday morning, before its mid-day flight back to San Jose, Calif. The Spartans played at Fresno State on Monday, at Hawai'i on Thursday, and will host New Mexico State on Saturday.

"It's kind of good to see teams come here with tired legs because that's how we feel everywhere we go," Hawai'i junior forward Riley Luettgerodt said. "I don't know how they came up with these schedules, but that's how it works, so we have to make the most of it."

Hawai'i is currently in seventh place in the nine-team WAC. Utah State is 15-5 overall and in third place in the WAC at 4-2.

Nevada and New Mexico State are both 6-1 in the WAC, and appear to be closing in on the top two seeds for the WAC Tournament. Wallace said he'd like to see Hawai'i climb to "4 or 5" by the end of the season.

"If we're 4-3, or even 3-4, we'd still be right there," Wallace said. "But we're 2-5 and so we still have to work to get back in it."

Thursday's victory over San Jose State was a start. Four 'Bows scored in double figures, even though no Hawai'i player took more than nine shots.

"The best part about that game was that everybody got involved," senior co-captain Matt Lojeski said. "We got that big lead and then everybody got in the game, so that was nice."

Monday's game will mark the halfway point of the WAC regular season for Hawai'i.

WILDER AWAITING WORD

Senior guard John Wilder remains academically ineligible while awaiting the status of a class from last semester.

"I'm supposed to get that grade in, and then I can start suiting up again," he said. "I'm confident I'll get it."

Wilder has been practicing with the team, but can not play in games or travel on road trips.

"It's my fault," he said. "I didn't take care of my school work, so I have to pay the consequences."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.