The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team found the perfect remedy for its recent ills last night.

It came in the form of a 72-52 blowout of San Jose State.

A crowd of 3,719 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors end a three-game losing streak to improve to 11-9 overall and 2-5 in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Spartans dropped to 2-17 overall with their 20th consecutive loss away from home, and 1-6 in the WAC.

"It's a good win for us, and a much-needed one, no question," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said.

Wallace coached last night's game despite missing the previous two practices with flu-like symptoms. He said he was still not at full strength, but the teamwork displayed by the 'Bows certainly made him feel better.

"That was the perfect game for it," he said.

Matt Lojeski scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting to lead Hawai'i's balanced attack.

Three other 'Bows scored in double-figures: Matt Gibson had 12 points and nine rebounds, P.J. Owsley scored 10 on 5-of-7 shooting, and Bobby Nash contributed 10 points and five assists.

"Anytime you see that on our offense, you know we're working — where everybody scores and everybody seems to enjoy it," Wallace said.

Equally important, the 'Bows dominated the boards, grabbing a season-high 53 rebounds to San Jose State's 34.

Starting center Ahmet Gueye collected 13 rebounds to go with his nine points, and reserve center Stephen Verwers grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, including 11 in the decisive first half.

"It's really a point of pride for us to out-rebound a team," Verwers said.

The 'Bows led from start to finish, and were never really challenged, thanks mostly to an atrocious shooting performance by the Spartans.

San Jose State shot 26.6 percent from the field, including 19.4 percent in the first half.

"I feel like a soccer coach," San Jose State head coach George Nessman said. "We couldn't make a shot."

In the practices leading to last night's game, the 'Bows worked primarily on defense.

"First half, we played real good help-rotation defense, and I think it threw them off a little bit," Gibson said. "It's hard for any player to make a shot ... when a hand is in their face. In that first half, we were contesting every shot."

The proof came during an astonishing 24-0 run by Hawai'i that gave the 'Bows an insurmountable 38-8 lead with 2:42 remaining in the first half.

The Spartans went 0 for 14 during the drought, which lasted 9 minutes, 1 second. San Jose State went scoreless on 16 consecutive possessions during the run.

"Let's put it this way, more than half of them were pretty good looks," Nessman said. "We just didn't knock them down, and it was game over."

Hawai'i eventually took a 40-15 lead at intermission. Verwers and Gueye combined for 17 rebounds, leading the 'Bows to a 29-13 advantage on the boards in the first half.

Hawai'i increased the lead to as many as 33 points in the second half.

"I thought their defense was excellent, so I don't want to dissuade from what they did," Nessman said. "They did a great job early in the game of putting pressure on our wings and forcing us to drive into their defense."

The Spartans cut the deficit to 15 late in the game with a flurry of 3-pointers, but Hawai'i pushed the lead back up to 68-45 with 2:11 remaining, allowing the reserves to finish the game.

Hawai'i freshman Todd Lowenthal made one of two free throws with 23.3 seconds remaining for his first collegiate point.

Menelik Barbary and Carlton Spencer led San Jose State with 15 points each. The Spartans' starting trio of guards — Spencer, Kevin Buggs and Jamon Hill — combined to shoot 6 of 39 from the field.

Wallace and several of the 'Bows credited associate coach Bob Nash with a key assist for the victory. Nash ran the practices while Wallace was ill, and installed the defensive strategy used against the Spartans.

"He's ready to coach and that's what it's all about," Wallace said of Nash. "It's a team effort as coaches and players."

Hawai'i entered the game tied with the Spartans for eighth place in the nine-team WAC.

"We made a statement to ourselves more than anything," Gibson said. "Letting ourselves know and giving ourselves confidence that we don't belong there."

The 'Bows will continue WAC play in their next game, which is scheduled for Monday against Utah State at the Sheriff Center.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.