The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team couldn't catch a break on the road last week, so the Rainbow Warriors are not going to take any breaks at home this week.

Less than 48 hours after a devastating 61-59 loss to host San Jose State, the 'Bows were back at practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I didn't want guys sitting around and thinking about that game, so that's why we're back here, practicing right away," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "Our season is not over. We still have one home game left and then we go to the WAC Tournament. Our goal is to win those games."

Sophomore point guard Hiram Thompson said: "It was a tough trip, we all know it. So getting back to work right away and focusing on the next opponent definitely will help us forget about the last one."

The 'Bows blew a five-point lead in the final 3 minutes, 36 seconds in the loss to San Jose State. Several miscues in the closing seconds also led to Hawai'i's doom.

It also put Hawai'i in a precarious situation.

The 'Bows are 13-15 overall and in eighth place in the Western Athletic Conference at 5-10. Hawai'i will conclude its regular season by hosting New Mexico State on Saturday at the Sheriff Center.

The Aggies lost to Boise State yesterday to drop to 15-14 overall and 8-7 in the WAC.

"That's a very athletic team with a lot of guys who can score the basketball," Nash said. "We're going to have our hands full, so we have to take advantage of this whole week to get ready."

But the 'Bows are also concerned about the results of Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs will play at Idaho on Thursday in a game that will impact the 'Bows.

If Louisiana Tech wins, Hawai'i will be locked in as the No. 8 seed for the WAC Tournament. In that scenario, the 'Bows would meet ninth-place Fresno State in the play-in game of the WAC Tournament.

If Louisiana Tech loses on Thursday, Hawai'i has a chance to climb to the No. 7 seed. The combination of a LaTech loss and UH victory would put the 'Bows in seventh and LaTech in eighth.

Avoiding the play-in game is favorable for obvious reasons.

For one, it would mean more time to prepare for the WAC Tournament. The play-in game is March 10; the other teams will start play March 12.

What's more, the winner of the play-in game will then have to face No. 1 seed Utah State on March 12.

"We're just trying to win our game," Nash said. "Whatever happens with the other games, we have no control over. We'll know by Thursday what our situation is, but that's not going to change the way we prepare for New Mexico State. We're going out to win that game, no matter what."

If LaTech wins Thursday, Nash said he would not rest his starters Saturday.

"We need momentum going to the WAC Tournament," Nash said. "There's no way we can treat that game like it doesn't mean anything. It means a lot whether we're in the play-in game or not."

THOMPSON FINALLY FINDING SHOOTING TOUCH

Hiram Thompson had his best back-to-back games of this season last week on the road.

The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 assists in losses to Utah State and San Jose State. Prior to the road trip, Thompson was averaging 3.0 points and 2.1 assists per game.

"For the most part, this is as healthy as Hiram has been all year," Nash said. "He's starting to get his legs back under him and I think you're seeing what we knew he was capable of."

Thompson has battled nagging injuries in both hamstrings since the preseason.

The 'Bows have struggled with outside shooting all season, but Thompson went 8 for 11 from 3-point range in the two road losses.

"I've been shooting all year, they just haven't been falling," Thompson said. "Now that they are falling, I'm shooting with a lot more confidence."

Thompson now leads the team with a .385 percentage from 3-point range.

Nash said continued success from the perimeter will be key to Hawai'i's attack as it prepares for the WAC Tournament.

"Hiram gives us a ball-handler, and a set-up guy," Nash said. "But when he can become another scorer like that, he takes the pressure off our bigs. It frees up space for Rod (Flemings) and Bill (Amis) and some of the other guys."

Still, Thompson said he was not satisfied with his performance last week, which included a career-best game of 16 points and seven assists at Utah State.

"We lost both games," he said. "I can't be happy with that no matter what I did."

BALOCKA WANTS TO RETURN FOR HOME FINALE

Reserve center Petras Balocka did not travel with the team last week because of a groin injury, and he was still unable to practice yesterday.

"It's better than it was before, but I still need treatment," he said. "If it's up to me, I'm playing Saturday. It's been enough already. I can't miss any more games. I might have to play through some pain, but I'll do it."

Balocka has missed the last four games with the injury, and the 'Bows are 1-3 in those games.

"We miss his offensive presence," Nash said. "He can score in the paint, and we needed more of that. On the defensive end, we could have used his big body."

Balocka, a 6-8 junior, is averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

He said he followed the team's progress on his computer.

"Nothing worse than sitting thousands of miles away and not being able to help," he said. "That's why I want to come back."