SAN JOSE, Calif. — The end of the road may turn out to be the start of a surge for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Led by center Ahmet Gueye, the Rainbow Warriors turned back San Jose State, 67-55, last night at The Event Center. It was Hawai'i's final regular-season road game of the season.

Hawai'i improved to 16-12 overall with its second consecutive road victory, and 6-8 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Spartans dropped to 4-23 and 3-11. They have lost nine consecutive games to the 'Bows, including two this season.

Coming off a week's rest since a road victory at Long Beach State, Gueye battled through his nagging knee injuries to score 14 points, grab 13 rebounds, and block an Event Center-record seven shots. The Senegal native got off to a hot start, making four of his first five field goals.

"I usually have a hard time feeling it because of my knees," said Gueye, who iced his legs while resting on the bench during the game. "But tonight I was at the right place, at the right time. It's just instinct. I have to sacrifice."

Gueye and fellow co-captain Matt Lojeski recorded double-doubles. Lojeski had 15 points — including 13 during the decisive second half — and 11 rebounds.

Bobby Nash added 11 points, and Matt Gibson had 11 points and five assists for the 'Bows.

Hawai'i led by as many nine points in the first half, but the Spartans took a 32-30 lead at halftime on a 3-pointer by Julian Richardson.

"Teams like that can be dangerous, and we were prepared for a grind-it-out game," Lojeski said. "We know how it feels to have all these one-, two-, three-point loss games."

Gibson came out firing in the second half, sinking a jumper and then nailing a fastbreak 3-pointer to put the 'Bows up 35-32.

The Spartans trailed the rest of the game, despite Hawai'i's trouble protecting the ball. For the fourth time this season, the 'Bows had a season-high 23 turnovers.

"They're the worst team I've ever coached in terms of turnovers," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Our defense won it for us tonight."

The Spartans shot 29.7 percent from the field, including 23.3 percent (7 of 30) in the second half. The 'Bows also won the rebounding battle, 45-30.

Hawai'i led 49-43 midway through the second half, then put it out of reach with a 10-2 run that increased the lead to 59-45.

With 7:11 to go, backup center Stephen Verwers epitomized Hawai'i's effort when he dived for a loose ball, forcing the referees to call a jump ball.

Gueye, a 6-foot-8 senior, matched his career-high for rebounds, and was one blocked shot shy of tying a UH record for blocks in a single game.

"He's a dominant player," San Jose State head coach George Nessman said. "He doesn't have the quickness on the floor like he did last year, but physically, he's the toughest big (man) in the WAC. When he anchors himself, he's hard to move."

Richardson led the Spartans with 12 points, although he did not score in the second half.

The 'Bows are scheduled to return to Honolulu today for their final homestand against Idaho Thursday and Boise State Saturday.

Saturday will be the final home game for seniors Gueye and Lojeski, and for Wallace, whose resignation will go into effect at the end of this season.

"It's going to be an emotional week," Wallace said. "But we've got to go back, rest up, and finish the regular season strong before the (WAC) tournament."