George Washington slept here.

Or, to be more accurate, the Colonials of George Washington University were put to sleep by a suffocating zone defense imposed by a suddenly impassioned Hawai'i men's basketball team last night, 73-47, in the consolation semifinals of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

Forty-eight hours after the Rainbow Warriors were lethargically pinned with a stunning loss by Colorado State in their tournament opener, the same 'Bows — with a couple of lineup changes for good measure — made a screeching, heartening, 180-degree turnaround.

They did it with their most energized 40 minutes of the season to go to 7-4 and earn today's 5 p.m. consolation final against Pepperdine.

It was textbook, all-out defense that held the Colonials to 30-percent shooting, including just 2 of 18 (11 percent) from 3-point range, and seemed to take the starch out of GW. So much so that at times it seemed the Colonials' wigged mascot, "George," had as much of a chance of sinking a 3-pointer as anybody in a GW uniform.

The UH effort was helped by the energy that the insertion of Hiram Thompson and Paul Campbell, and the vigor they brought to the starting lineup. And while coaches talked approvingly about how the 'Bows kept their feet moving, their hands in action and communicated with each other, it was plain for the assembled 3,219 to see this mostly came down to a game of the heart.

The 'Bows had one.

The Colonials (6-4) didn't. At least not one that beat on the court.

"Hawai'i understood the importance of this game. They understood the situation, they understood the magnitude and they were mentally and physically prepared to play this game," said GW coach Karl Hobbs. "They overwhelmed us."

For UH head coach Bob Nash, the Saturday night loss — and the way it pathetically played out — had to hurt personally as much as professionally. After all, he was the poster player for playing with passion, putting up a still-standing tournament record 30 rebounds in 1971.

So, he put this one in terms that spoke to the heart and made it a little more personal, more compelling.

"When I came into the arena, I thought about the fans who come to watch us and support us every game," Nash recalled. "I told them (the players), 'A lot of elderly people come to these games; people in wheelchairs and with walkers and I'm saying these people are coming to support you when you win and when you lose. And, when you go out there tonight, keep that in mind, OK?,' " Nash pointed out.

Nash added he told them, " 'Play with that passion for those people that make a sacrifice to get here because they support you. So, let's give them a treat tonight and play for 40 minutes.' "

And what a treat it was.

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