The University of Hawai'i men's basketball season came to an end without a postseason berth for the third consecutive year when the National Invitation Tournament passed on the Rainbow Warriors yesterday.

The 18-13 'Bows were en route to Honolulu from Las Cruces, N.M., site of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, when the 32-team field was announced.

UH coach Riley Wallace and several players acknowledged the 'Bows were long shots for the NIT after their early elimination from the WAC Tournament, but held out slight hope they might get a berth.

UH has appeared in eight NITs, the last time in 2003-04, when the tournament, now owned by the NCAA, had a 40-team field. This is the first time an 18-win UH team did not earn a place in either the NIT or NCAA tournaments.

Two WAC teams, Utah State (23-10) and Fresno State (22-9), were picked by the NIT. Utah State eliminated UH, 73-70, in the quarterfinal round of the WAC Tournament on Thursday. The 'Bows won both meetings against Fresno State this season.

Six schools with 18-win records are in the NIT field.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.