honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, January 9, 2009

'Bows play with 'no energy' in 67-47 road loss to Idaho

Advertiser Staff

Maybe it's a good thing only a few people were able to watch the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team yesterday.

The Rainbow Warriors had their worst performance of the season in a 67-47 loss to Idaho in a Western Athletic Conference game at Moscow, Idaho.

The Cowan Spectrum on the Idaho campus drew a crowd of just 652 — the smallest for a UH game in recent memory.

"We had no energy," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "It wasn't a big-time atmosphere — there were no students — but that didn't have anything to do with it. We just played bad."

The 'Bows dropped to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in the WAC. It was Hawai'i's eighth consecutive loss away from home.

The Vandals, who had an 8-21 record last season, improved to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in the WAC.

"You have to give Idaho some credit, too," Nash said. "As bad as we played, they showed that they are very much an improved team."

The 47 points was Hawai'i's lowest output in four years, and the 20-point margin of defeat was the largest of this season.

The 'Bows also established season-lows with 26 rebounds and a .298 field-goal percentage.

"We just didn't have the energy we normally play with," Nash said. "Nobody was going to the boards, we weren't running our offense, we gave up transition baskets. You do that on the road, it usually turns into a long night, and it was a long night for us."

Roderick Flemings led Hawai'i with 16 points, including 4 of 8 shooting from 3-point range. Lasha Parghalava added 12 points, although he shot 2-of-13 from the field, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

The 'Bows played without starting point guard Hiram Thompson, who was not in uniform because of an injured hamstring.

"The thing that Hiram brings is he's a true point guard, and a seasoned point guard," Nash said. "He can get things settled down when we need to."

Reserve center Petras Balocka was also limited to nine minutes due to a groin injury. He entered the game second on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game, but was held scoreless by the Vandals.

Hawai'i's only advantage came early in the game when Flemings hit a 3-pointer to give the 'Bows an 8-4 lead. But Idaho responded with a 9-0 run to take a 13-8 lead.

The 'Bows managed to tie the score at 22 with 3:46 remaining in the first half, but that was as close as it would get. The Vandals closed the half with an 8-2 run to take a 30-24 advantage at intermission.

"We had some breakdowns — we allowed them to drive and get to the paint too easily," Nash said. "Then in that second half, we just couldn't make any shots."

The 'Bows trailed 46-38 with 12:56 remaining in the second half, then went scoreless for a six-minute stretch. Idaho's 12-0 run during that time increased the lead to an insurmountable 58-38.

Hawai'i went 6-of-24 (25 percent) from the field in the second half, while Idaho went 13-of-19 (68.4 percent).

But perhaps the most glaring statistic was the rebounds. Idaho out-rebounded the 'Bows, 37-26. Prior to the game, Hawai'i was ranked second in the WAC with 37.1 rebounds per game, while Idaho ranked last with 31.4.

"It wasn't so much what they did," Nash said. "Most of the problems we had were self-inflicted."

Kashif Watson led the Vandals with 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting. Mac Hopson added 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Hawai'i will stay on the road for another WAC game at Boise State on Saturday.

"All we can do is forget about this one and get ready for Boise," Nash said.

UTAH STATE 50, LOUISIANA TECH 37

Gary Wilkinson scored 17 points and the visiting Aggies (14-1, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference), with the game tied at 37-all with 5:29 to play, finished with a 13-0 run to beat the Bulldogs (7-9, 1-2).

BOISE STATE 84, SAN JOSE STATE 64

Anthony Thomas scored 19 points to lead three teammates in double figures and the host Broncos (11-3, 2-0) rolled to a 46-28 halftime lead to beat the Spartans (6-7, 0-3) for the 18th time in 19 meetings.

NEVADA 79, NEW MEXICO STATE 71

Armon Johnson scored six of his 20 points in overtime and Luke Babbitt added four of his 22 in the extra period to lead the visiting Wolf Pack (8-7, 1-1) past the Aggies (8-8, 2-1).

• • •