Jared Dillinger is known to his teammates on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team as "J.D."

Lately, the emphasis has been on D.

Dillinger has emerged as one of the team's top defenders, and his pressure defense in the closing seconds helped the Rainbow Warriors secure a 65-64 victory over San Jose State on Monday.

"If my shot's not falling, I have to do something else to help the team win," he said. "Playing good defense is something I think I can do."

Dillinger and the 'Bows will have to be on the defensive again tomorrow when they host Fresno State in a Western Athletic Conference game.

The Bulldogs lead the WAC in 3-pointers with an average of 8.5 per game. They average 25.2 3-point attempts per game.

"They really shoot the basketball," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "If you leave one guy open for a split-second, he'll put up a 3 on you."

In Monday's victory, Dillinger volunteered to defend San Jose State guard DaShawn Wright on the Spartans' final possession. Wright, who scored 20 points in the game, put up an errant shot with Dillinger in his face.

"That guy was having a great game, but I felt confident I could stop him for one play," Dillinger said. "That's the mindset you have to have to play defense."

Dillinger, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, scored just two points in each of his last two games, but received praise from Nash.

"I thought it was big of him to step up and volunteer to play defense on that last play," Nash said. "He didn't have a great night offensively, but he found a way to help us win."

BULLDOGS SUFFER LOSSES

Fresno State will arrive in Honolulu today after a 69-65 loss at San Jose State last night.

The Bulldogs played for the first time this season without starting forward Bryan Harvey. He was declared academically ineligible this week, and will miss the rest of the season.

He is the third Fresno State starter to go down this season. Touted recruit Rekalin Sims was dismissed from the team without playing a game; guard Dwight O'Neil has not played since November because of a broken wrist.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.