Thanks to the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, the top of the standings in the Western Athletic Conference now looks like an impossible Sudoku puzzle.

But some how, some way, it will get figured out over the next two weeks.

For now, five teams are within two games of each other.

The Rainbow Warriors are in the fifth position, but gained some needed momentum with a 71-66 over Utah State on Saturday. The Aggies entered the game in first place, but are now in third.

"Coach (Bob Nash) says we control our own destiny," Hawai'i senior guard Riley Luettgerodt said. "It's anybody's race. If we win out, we have as good a chance as anybody."

Hawai'i is 11-12 overall and 7-4 in the WAC. Boise State is currently in first with a 10-3 conference record.

New Mexico State (9-3), Utah State (8-3) and Nevada (9-4) are the other teams in the race.

A goal for all five contenders is to finish in the top three of the regular-season standings to assure a matchup against a bottom three team in the first round of the WAC Tournament.

The No. 4 and 5 seeds will have to face each other. If the season ended today, for example, Hawai'i would have to play Nevada in the first round.

Hawai'i still has road games to come at Fresno State, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State, as well as home games against Idaho and Boise State.

"We can't afford to give any of them back," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said after the 'Bows' thrilling 71-66 comeback victory over Utah State.

The 'Bows departed Honolulu early yesterday morning and arrived in Fresno, Calif., in the early evening. Hawai'i will play at Fresno State on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs are 11-15 overall and in sixth place in the WAC at 4-8. They have lost five of their last six games, including an 84-72 loss at Boise State on Saturday.

"They're going to be a handful to beat at their place," Nash said, noting Fresno State's 9-4 home record. "But I expect our guys to come out and give a great effort."

The 'Bows did that on Saturday, rallying from a 14-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of the game.

The 'Bows staged several rallies in other games earlier this season, but most of them came up short.

"It shows that we learned from being in those situations," Luettgerodt said. "We're battle-tested ... we're coming through in the end now."

Hawai'i's starting five of Luettgerodt, Matt Gibson, Jared Dillinger, Bobby Nash and Bill Amis played the entire second half of Saturday's game. They each finished with double-figure points.

They didn't have much time to rest — or celebrate.

Nash said he would have preferred for the team to rest at home yesterday and travel to Fresno today, but the flight reservations were made months ago.

"The way the flights were made, it would cost us too much (to change)," Nash said. "We'll rest up (yesterday), have a short practice (today), practice again (tomorrow) and play them on Wednesday."

OWSLEY WILL TRAVEL AND TRY TO PLAY WITH 'BOWS

Senior forward/center P.J. Owsley is on the travel roster for this trip, although his playing status remains a day-to-day situation.

He has missed the last three games with an injured right knee.

"He's going with us," Nash said. "He's looking to play on Wednesday, and trying to get some rhythm for that final homestand."

Owsley is averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, and is considered the team's strongest low-post defender.

After playing at Fresno State on Wednesday, the 'Bows will play a nonconference game at UC Riverside on Saturday.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.