What happens in Reno, stays in Reno.

At least that's what the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is thinking after returning home yesterday from a forgettable trip to Reno, Nev.

The Rainbow Warriors dropped to fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference after an 88-68 loss at Nevada on Saturday. It was Hawai'i's worst WAC loss of the season.

But the 'Bows did not completely bust in Reno.

Hawai'i is 10-12 overall and 6-4 in the WAC. First-place Utah State is 8-1 in the conference, just 2 1/2 games ahead of the 'Bows.

What's more, Utah State has to play at Nevada tonight, and then will travel to Honolulu to play Hawai'i on Saturday.

"As much as this loss hurts, we have to forget about it," Hawai'i senior Jared Dillinger said after the Nevada game. "We have another big game to prepare for in Utah State."

The Aggies beat the 'Bows, 86-80, at Logan, Utah, on Jan. 3.

The 'Bows are hoping to get starting center P.J. Owsley back for Saturday's game. The 6-foot-8 senior has missed the last two games with an injured right knee.

He did not make the trip to Reno because the Hawai'i coaches thought it would give his knee more time to heal.

Without Owsley, the 'Bows struggled against Nevada as several players had to play multiple positions.

Bobby Nash, for example, played power forward and center against the Wolf Pack, and never found his shooting touch. He finished with a season-low six points on 2-of-10 shooting.

"Guys had to play way out of position all over the floor," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "It creates match-up problems."

The 'Bows took only nine active players to Reno, and all nine saw action. However, freshman Kareem Nitoto was the only reserve to score, finishing with six points in 13 minutes.

"In the situation we're in, we're asking everybody to step up and do a lot," senior point guard Matt Gibson said. "And when you don't have your biggest, strongest guys here with you to take care of stuff inside, it puts a lot of pressure on the shooters to make shots."

COLD STREAK CONTINUES FOR HAWAI'I IN RENO

By Reno standards, the weather was actually nice last week. Skies were clear and temperatures were in the 50s.

Still, the 'Bows remained cold. In one of those hard-to-explain streaks, the 'Bows dropped to 0-11 all-time against Nevada in games played in Reno.

"I think just the fact that we never won here might have something to do with it," Hawai'i senior Matt Gibson said. "Maybe that mental mindset makes you want to win so bad."

Somewhat surprisingly, the 'Bows are the only current WAC team not to own a victory over the Wolf Pack in Reno. Even lowly Idaho won a game at Nevada in 1999.

"It's their reputation, the way they're capable of shooting at home, the way they play in here, the fans, all of the above," Gibson said.

However, the 'Bows are not completely winless in the Lawlor Events Center. They beat San Jose State there during the WAC Tournament in 2005.

On the other hand, Hawai'i has a streak of its own against another WAC team. Boise State is 0-6 all-time against the 'Bows in Honolulu. The Broncos will play at Hawai'i on March 1.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.