Fresh off an 11-day break, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team wants to catch a break tonight.

The Rainbow Warriors, who last played on Dec. 5, will return to action tonight when they host Northwestern State in a bigger-than-it-appears non-conference game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I don't know if people realize how important this game is for us," Hawai'i senior guard Matt Lojeski said. "Northwestern State is a quality team, and that's the kind of team we have to beat if we want to get to the postseason like they did last year."

Today's game will start at 5:35 p.m. — earlier than usual because the Sheriff Center needs to be set up for graduation ceremonies before tomorrow morning.

Hawai'i is 4-4, and three of its last four games have resulted in losses.

"It's been awhile since we played, and we lost our last game (to UNLV)," Lojeski said. "So we're looking at this as a fresh start and a way to get our confidence back."

It won't come easy against a Northwestern State team that is 5-4 and favored to win the Southland Conference.

"They're nationally-known now," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "People know what they did last year, and they're playing a real tough schedule again this year."

The Demons went 26-8 last season, including a 64-63 upset of Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

However, Hawai'i beat Northwestern State, 80-76, in last season's Rainbow Classic.

In that game, Hawai'i freshman guard Hiram Thompson had a breakout performance, weaving through the Northwestern State pressure defense for 15 points. The 'Bows cannot count on that again, since Thompson is currently on a two-year church mission in Iowa.

"We still have the same system," Wallace said. "We might not have a guy like (Thompson) who can dribble through pressure, so we need all our guys to execute and make it work."

But Northwestern State also has a different look. Only two starters are back for the Demons, although Wallace said Northwestern State's personnel is similar to last season.

"Different guys, but same style," Wallace said. "They have a lot of good athletes."

And the Demons also will be playing for the first time in 11 days.

Northwestern State head coach Mike McConathy likes to use a platoon system. Twelve different players normally see action for the Demons, and no player averages more than 30 minutes per game.

"If we can be fresh in the last eight minutes of a game, we feel like we have an opportunity to be competitive and win the game," McConathy said.

A good example of the scheme is Trey Gilder. The 6-foot-9 forward has not started a game this season, but leads Northwestern State in scoring with 14.2 points per game.

McConathy said he may have to cut down on some of the rotations tonight due to injuries. Gilder has a fractured left (non-shooting) hand, and forward Jermaine Spencer has a bruised heel.

"We're really beat up right now," McConathy said. "But we like to use that (platoon) system every game. I just don't know if we can use it as much for this game."

The Demons like to play an up-tempo game, with every player getting an opportunity to score. Nine different players have reached double-figure points in a game this season.

"It's like they can all dribble and shoot, no matter which five they have on the floor," Lojeski said of the Demons. "That makes them a tough team to play."

Hawai'i senior forward Ahmet Gueye added: "We really have to be ready to help each other on the defensive end."

Gueye had 18 points and eight rebounds in last season's victory over the Demons.

"I just remember it being a tough game because they used a lot of guys," Gueye said.

Of equal concern for Hawai'i is Northwestern State's pressure defense. The Demons are forcing 22.2 turnovers per game; the 'Bows are averaging 18 turnovers per game.

Northwestern State is also road-tested this season. The Demons have already played five road games, including losses at national powers Oklahoma State, Louisville and Marquette.

"It's important to put yourself in the best venues there are to prepare for your conference schedule as well as preparing to hopefully try and get a chance to play in the NCAA (Tournament)," McConathy said. "If we don't play in the venues we did last year — and that includes our trip here (for the Rainbow Classic) — I don't think we can win against Iowa."

Northwestern State has already tried four different starting lineups this season, and could change again today because of the injury situation. Hawai'i will change its lineup today for the first time this season.

P.J. Owsley, a 6-8 junior forward, will make his first start as a 'Bow. He is swapping roles with 6-11 junior Stephen Verwers, who will be the first "big man" off the bench.

"We'll need both of them," Wallace said. "But we're looking for offense, and hopefully P.J. can give us a lift with that."

The 'Bows are also looking for a lift heading into next week's Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. The eight-team tournament will take place Dec. 20-23.

"We want to get this one to give us momentum going into the tournament," Wallace said.

NOTES

Fans who attend today's women's Paradise Classic games in the Sheriff Center can stay for the men's game between Hawai'i and Northwestern State. Tickets for the women's games are $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens (students are free). However, fans who attend the women's games must move to an unoccupied seat in the upper level for the men's game.

Purchases of the women's tickets must be made before halftime of the 3 p.m. game. After halftime of the women's game, tickets will be sold at the men's prices. Fans who already have men's tickets can enter at anytime during the women's or men's game.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.