The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team wants to turn over its season-long turnover trend, and the two point guards for the Rainbow Warriors would like it to start this week.

Matt Gibson and Dominic Waters have formed a productive combination at point guard for the 'Bows this season, but neither is satisfied.

"We're losing games that we should be winning," Gibson said. "Nobody on this team is happy with that."

Hawai'i is 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference after road losses at New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech last week.

The 'Bows will try to rebound tomorrow against a Fresno State team that is 13-2 overall and 2-0 in the WAC. On Saturday, Hawai'i will host No. 19-ranked Nevada, which is the three-time defending WAC champion.

"If we're going to make a move, it has to be this week," Waters said. "This is a time to start over because we can't accept what happened on the road."

Gibson, a 6-foot-5 junior from Oklahoma, is the starter at point guard. He is averaging 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.8 minutes per game. He also leads the team with 21 3-pointers and 28 steals.

Waters, a 6-1 sophomore, is Gibson's primary backup, and the first guard off the bench. He is averaging 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 18.2 minutes per game. He leads the team in free-throw shooting at 87.2 percent.

"Dominic is more slow-it-down, more safe with the offense," Gibson said. "I like to run, drive the lane, take quick shots. I think it's a good change of pace to have two guys like that."

Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said he likes having Gibson and Waters in competition because it keeps both players active.

"When Matt's not playing well, especially on the defensive end, Dominic's going to get more (playing) time," Wallace said. "But Dominic knows he has to come in and do what he's supposed to do to stay in there. I just wish we could get both of them playing well at the same time."

Specifically, Wallace said the 'Bows need to cut down their turnovers.

"That's the key to the rest of the season," he said. "We're fine everywhere else — rebounding, scoring — but those turnovers have been the difference in all our losses."

Hawai'i leads the WAC in turnovers at 18.2 per game. Gibson leads the team with 3.4 turnovers per game, and Waters is third with 2.6 per game.

"It's a team effort," Wallace said. "In our offense, everybody has to pass, and everybody is making their share (of turnovers). But it starts with the point guard, and both those guys need to improve."

Waters added: "It's not like we're doing it on purpose. We know all the small things we need to do. It's correctable."

In an effort to improve his play, Waters volunteered to practice with the scout team during yesterday's practice.

"I just want to get more reps, and work on my game," he said. "My (game) minutes have gone down significantly the last couple games, and I want to get it back up."

Turnovers aside, Gibson and Waters give the 'Bows a scoring threat at point guard — something the program has been lacking in recent years.

"But it's a give and take," Wallace noted. "You like that they can score for you, but the turnovers are a problem."

In any case, Gibson and Waters are both fiery competitors, and both have a desire to claim sole possession of the position by the end of the season.

"It's a love-hate relationship because we both strive to be the best, and we both want to start and play all the time," Gibson said. "But we realize what the situation is, and so we're doing what we can to make it work together."

NOTES

Sophomore center Todd Follmer returned to practice yesterday. He missed the two road games last week due to the death of his grandfather in California.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.