Matt Lojeski is on pace to become one of the most efficient shooters in the history of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball program this season.

But after Hawai'i's 0-2 start in the Western Athletic Conference, head coach Riley Wallace would like to see Lojeski pick up the pace.

"We have to find him more shots," Wallace said. "He's too good a shooter to just take 11 shots (a game)."

With "Lojo" unleashed, the forecast calls for a heavy rain of 3s when the Rainbow Warriors host Fresno State in an intriguing WAC game tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai'i is 9-6 overall while the Bulldogs are off to their best start since the 1981-82 season at 13-2 overall and 2-0 in the WAC.

Fresno State leads the conference with 144 3-pointers, and it averages 26.5 3-point attempts per game.

"They can put five guys on the floor, and any of the five will shoot it," Wallace said. "That's what we're concerned about, because that means all five of our guys will have to be alert and ready on defense."

Wallace does not necessarily want to match 3s with Fresno State — the 'Bows are last in the WAC with 69 3-pointers — but if there is a Hawai'i player who can shoot it, it's Lojeski.

The 6-foot-6 senior guard is averaging 17.9 points per game, and is shooting 56.6 percent from the field. However, Lojeski is averaging just 11.4 field-goal attempts per game, and has not taken more than 15 shots in a game this season.

"I've always been the kind of player who would rather play unselfish," Lojeski said. "If somebody else has a better shot, I'm going to pass it to them."

As proof, Lojeski leads the 'Bows in assists at 4.9 per game.

Now, Wallace wants more of the assists to go to Lojeski.

"I'm not talking about (Lojeski) taking the ball and creating his own shots," Wallace said. "I'm talking about the other guys finding him when he's open, and him taking those shots when he is open."

Lojeski said he likes that Wallace is giving him the green light to shoot, but he will continue to proceed with caution.

"We can't get caught up in (Fresno State's) game," he said. "They like to jack up 3s and go up and down. We just have to play our game. I'll take what comes to me. I can't go in thinking that I have to take more shots."

In truth, Wallace is more concerned about Fresno State's shooters.

The Bulldogs have one of the most talented lineups in the WAC, and their offense is often a mix of long 3s and spectacular dunks.

"I like the idea of taking 20 or so 3s," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "I think that's part of what we do. But we have to get a better balance ... post touches and perimeter shots."

Hawai'i relied on a zone defense to beat Fresno State last season in the Sheriff Center. Wallace said the 'Bows will likely use a mix of zone and man-to-man defenses tonight.

In any case, the 'Bows are aware that the Bulldogs will launch shots from all angles.

"A team that shoots that much is going make some," Lojeski said. "We just have to stay focused and not panic when they do have their spurts."

Quinton Hosley, a 6-6 wing player, leads a balanced Fresno State attack with 14.5 points per game. He is also averaging 8.5 rebounds per game, and has "NBA talent," according to Wallace.

"Very unselfish," is how Cleveland described the Bulldogs. "We don't have anybody scoring 20 points a game ... we've got four or five guys scoring anywhere from 10 to 12 to 13 points a game, and I think that's a lot better than one or two guys scoring 20."

The epitome of Fresno State's attack might be Hector Hernandez. The 6-9 center is averaging 12.8 points per game, and leads the team with 36 3-pointers.

"It's going to be a tough game for us, especially the bigs," Hawai'i senior center Ahmet Gueye said. "We're going to have to make sure we guard their bigs everywhere on the court."

Dominic McGuire, a 6-8 junior forward, is contributing 12.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game in his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from California. He already has a triple-double this season, which included 10 blocked shots against San Diego.

"He's certainly a difference-maker on this team from last year," Cleveland said.

It also makes a difference that the Bulldogs have something to play for this season. They were on a self-imposed postseason ban last season for violations under the previous coaching staff, and did not even participate in the WAC Tournament.

"There's an energy and a hope in the fact that we get a chance to play in the conference tournament," Cleveland said.

Hawai'i is hoping to get back to its winning ways after losing road games at New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech last week.

The 'Bows are 7-1 in the Stan Sheriff Center this season.

"If we can get two wins this week, we're back in good shape," Gueye said. "We'll be 2-2, but with two good wins. This is a chance for us to beat some good teams at home and get back in it."

Just like Fresno State, Hawai'i has four players averaging double-figure points: Lojeski at 17.9, Gueye at 11.7, Bobby Nash at 10.6, and Matt Gibson at 10.2.

Two other statistical categories could be crucial tonight.

Hawai'i leads the WAC in turnovers with 18.2 per game, while Fresno State is committing the fewest turnovers per game in the WAC at 13.9.

Fouls could also make a difference since neither team uses a deep rotation. Seven players get most of the minutes for Fresno State; Hawai'i usually goes with eight players.

NOTES

Hawai'i freshman point guard Todd Lowenthal has missed practices this week due to flu-like symptoms, and is not expected to play tonight.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.