LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The remnants of a case of food poisoning was nothing compared to the sick feeling Matt Gibson had after the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team ended its season with an 80-74 loss to Boise State yesterday.

"Ending my career here at the University of Hawai'i, it's a sad time," Gibson said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity I had, but I'm not feeling too great right now."

The loss came in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Pan American Center. It ended Hawai'i's season with an 11-19 record.

Gibson, a 6-foot-5 senior point guard, started and played 30 minutes despite still recovering from food poisoning. He skipped practice on Wednesday and said he was feeling "pretty lousy" yesterday.

"I was in bed all day (Wednesday) and didn't really eat too much," he said. "Considering the loss, it doesn't feel too good either."

Still, Gibson played like the energizer who sparked the 'Bows all season. He finished with 17 points and five rebounds, and was still diving for loose balls in the closing seconds.

"I learned a lot from Matt Gibson," said freshman point guard Kareem Nitoto, who played 16 minutes in relief of Gibson yesterday. "I learned to give everything you have every game. He's busted up right now, but he was still playing harder than anybody out there. He's a special player."

Gibson's defensive pressure on Boise State point guard Anthony Thomas helped force the Broncos into 15 turnovers in the first half. The 'Bows led by as many as nine in the first half, and took a 35-27 lead at halftime.

But the Broncos rallied in the second half by utilizing their low-post game.

"They kind of slowed it down a little bit (in the second half) and set some screens, really worked to try and get it inside," Gibson said. "Credit them for slowing it down and taking it inside."

Gibson finished his senior season as the 'Bows leader in scoring with 17.0 points per game, assists with 4.8 per game, and steals with 47.

He finished his career among UH's all-time top 10 for scoring (No. 9 with 1,126), assists (No. 9 with 310), 3-pointers (No. 6 with 129), steals (No. 5 with 142) and free-throw percentage (No. 6 at .798).

But the 'Bows have never advanced past the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament in Gibson's three seasons.

"Things happen, man," he said. "All I can say is that my coaches over the years ... they really taught us to fight through adversities.

"Even though we lost this game, we showed that we stick together, and we fight together all the way through."

FREE-THROW RECORD

Senior forward Bobby Nash went 5 of 5 on free throws yesterday, and finished the season with the most accurate percentage in Hawai'i history.

Nash went 80 of 91 for a percentage of .879. It broke the previous mark of .874 set by Chris Gaines in the 1987-88 season.

Nash also finished his career tied with teammate Gibson for No. 5 on UH's career list for 3-pointers with 142. Nash is also No. 13 on UH's all-time scoring list with 1,022 points.

STUCK IN LAS CRUCES

The 'Bows will probably have to stay in Las Cruces through Sunday because no flights are available to get them home earlier.

"I have no idea what we can do here," UH senior Riley Luettgerodt said. "Hang out as a team and watch a lot of basketball, I guess."

The 'Bows ended their regular-season schedule against New Mexico State last Saturday, so they will have spent eight nights in Las Cruces by the time they return to Honolulu.

SEVEN SENIORS BOW OUT

Yesterday was the final collegiate game for UH's senior class of Gibson, Nash, Luettgerodt, Jared Dillinger, P.J. Owsley, Alex Veit and Stephen Verwers.

"I had to say goodbye to seven quality individuals in our locker room," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We have to go out and reload now, but these guys represented Hawai'i with the utmost respect for the state, the university and themselves."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.