RENO, Nev. — The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team has a pretty good big man, too.

Ahmet Gueye proved it yesterday, even though it came in a 69-68 loss to Nevada.

Gueye outplayed Nick Fazekas in the second half, giving the Rainbow Warriors a shot at an upset victory over the No. 15-ranked Wolf Pack.

"It wasn't only about Fazekas," Gueye said. "It was about me, myself ... I respect him a lot, but it was about me stepping up."

Gueye, a 6-foot-8 senior, tied his career-high with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had three assists, three blocked shots and two steals.

Fazekas, a 6-11 senior, had 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had two assists and two blocked shots. He is a two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and a candidate for national player of the year honors this season.

They defended each other for most of the game.

"He is a good player, really good," Nevada head coach Mark Fox said of Gueye. "Give him credit. You can't give him the kind of advantages we gave to him."

Gueye had been in an admitted slump in his previous three games, but he received a pep talk from the Hawai'i coaches prior to yesterday's game.

What's more, much of the pre-game hype surrounded Fazekas, because he did not play in Nevada's 68-66 overtime victory over the 'Bows in Honolulu last month due to an ankle injury.

"He answered the call," UH head coach Riley Wallace said, although he did not want to specify what he said to Gueye prior to the game.

Gueye was averaging 6.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three previous games.

"I was playing selfish the last couple games," he said. "I wasn't playing hard to be honest with you. As a team captain, I wasn't being a leader. Today, I had to step up and be there for my team."

Gueye was especially effective in the second half, scoring 10 points. More important, he helped limit Fazekas to six points and four rebounds after intermission.

Perhaps fittingly, a controversial call at the end of the game involved Gueye and Fazekas.

As Gueye was going up for a potential go-ahead basket, he was fouled by Fazekas. The basket was initially ruled good — which would have put Hawai'i ahead, 70-69, with 5.8 seconds left.

It was later discounted, keeping the Wolf Pack ahead, 69-68.

"I don't know what happened," Gueye said. "I don't know what (Fox) told the ref to change it. I'm extremely disappointed.

"We were going to do something special. No Hawai'i team ever won in here, and we had it."

WALLACE RECOGNIZED

Riley Wallace, whose resignation as Hawai'i head coach will become effective at the end of the season, was presented a rocking chair by the Nevada athletic department prior to the game.

Wallace sat in the rocking chair at midcourt, and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 9,791 at the Lawlor Events Center, as his accomplishments were read.

NOTE

Nevada was listed as a 12-point favorite over Hawai'i in Reno casinos.

Hawai'i is scheduled to return to Honolulu this afternoon.

The 'Bows will next play on Saturday, when they host Louisiana Tech.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.