It was barely six minutes into the basketball game with the University of Hawai'i and, already, you could see the beginnings of a long night for the University of California Riverside.

And, so, too, could Highlanders' coach Jim Wooldridge.

It was just 11-7 UH and the Rainbow Warriors' Roderick Flemings had already been to the free-throw line twice, each appearance greeted by a grimace from Wooldridge.

Flemings made only 3 of 8 shots from the field, but it was what he and the 'Bows did from 15 feet, at the free-throw line, that told the tale of this one, a 56-46 victory.

Flemings made 10 of 13 free-throw attempts, setting the pace for the 6-3 'Bows, who shot 81.8 percent (27-of-33), to manage their third consecutive victory, matching the longest win streak of the Bob Nash head coaching era.

While UH was going to the line 33 times with the Big West Conference officiating crew, the Highlanders got there 25 times and made but 17.

That right there, 27 free throws to 17, accounting for your difference last night in the 'Bows sixth consecutive home victory entering Saturday night's opening of the 45th Rainbow Classic.

Never mind the 19 turnovers, the 1 of 6 shooting from 3-point range and shaking off the rust of an eight-day final exams layoff, wearing a path to the free-throw line and cashing in while they were there got it done.

And it didn't go unnoticed. Not by the 3,690 in attendance or the opposing bench. "We knew that was part of their identity; a big part of their identity," Wooldridge said. "We just weren't able to play good enough defense to keep them off that line."

Not many people have in a season where the 'Bows have averaged 30.1 free-throws attempt per game, 10 more per game than their opponents and heading toward a possible school record pace.

Not by coincidence, either. "They have a proactive team," Wooldridge said. "In a physical game, they rebound hard, they cut hard, they put a lot of pressure on the interior of the floor. We just gave them too many chances to beat us at the line."

All by design, Nash maintains. "You look at the good teams in our league, Nevada and Utah State, they get to the line and make their free throws."

Not that it matters where the points come from for Flemings, the Western Athletic Conference's leading scorer at 19.1 per game, including 16 last night. "Points on the board is what it is all about," Flemings said. "It doesn't matter how they get there."

Truth be told, they have come from hard work and a team-wide attention to detail. "I put in about 150 (practice free-throw attempts) before each game," Flemings said. "The way our offense works, you either get your points inside ... or at the line."

And last night, the way the 'Bows were going to the line, spelled the end of the line for Riverside.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.