Colorado State came up big when it mattered most in a 67-61 victory over the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team in the semifinals of the 42nd annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic last night.

A crowd of 5,218 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched a rarity — the Rainbow Warriors losing in the Rainbow Classic.

Hawai'i had won 13 consecutive Rainbow Classic games prior to last night, including four consecutive championships. The 'Bows dropped to 5-3 with their first home loss of the season.

"We beat ourselves tonight, definitely," Hawai'i senior co-captain Julian Sensley said. "It was small things like people not catching the ball or being in the right spot."

The Rams, who are off to one of the best starts in school history, improved to 9-1. They will play Iowa State for the tournament championship tonight at 7:30.

Hawai'i will play Northwestern State for third place at 5 p.m. It is the first time since 1998 that Hawai'i will not be playing in the championship game of the Rainbow Classic.

Led by 7-foot center Jason Smith, the Rams came up big in the second half, rallying from a five-point deficit at halftime. Smith led Colorado State with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

"I thought the Rainbow Warriors out-played us the first 20 minutes — they were the aggressor and we were trying to react," Colorado State head coach Dale Layer said. "I thought we turned the tables on them in the second half.

"We were the aggressor. We were attacking the rim. We kind of got them back on their heels a little bit and I thought that was the difference in the game."

The Rams out-rebounded the 'Bows 43-27. Hawai'i also shot for a season-low 34.6 percent from the field.

"They energized their big guys in the second half and we didn't," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "They dominated the boards in the second half. That's just energy and hard work."

Sensley led the 'Bows with 14 points, although he shot just 3 of 15. Ahmet Gueye added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Bobby Nash had 11 points in a surprise relief performance.

"They have an explosive offensive team and I thought our defense did a really good job on them, but it was never comfortable," Layer said. "They've got a really good team and we had just enough to hold them off. I thought it certainly could go either way the whole night."

The Rams opened the game with a 15-7 lead before the 'Bows rallied behind the inspired play of Chris Botez. The 7-foot center came off the bench to score eight points and grab five rebounds in the first half. He finished with season-highs of nine points and five rebounds.

Botez scored all eight of his first-half points during a 10-0 run that put Hawai'i ahead, 21-17 with 4:44 remaining in the half. The 'Bows eventually took a 29-24 lead at intermission.

Botez was not the only Hawai'i player to provide inspiration last night.

Nash was listed as doubtful before the game with an injured right shoulder. He missed Hawai'i's previous two games because of the injury.

"It was killing me to shoot all night," Nash said. "But you always have to be ready coming off the bench. It shows (Wallace) has faith in me."

The Rams started the second half with a 13-2 run to regain the lead at 37-31. All five starters for Colorado State scored during the surge.

Moments later, 7-footers Smith and Stuart Creason combined to score nine points during an 13-5 run that increased the Rams' lead to 50-38 with 9:47 remaining.

"They came back with their press in the second half and we self-destructed," Wallace said.

Hawai'i got as close as 52-48 on a three-point play by Sensley with 4:07 remaining. But Colorado State scored the next four points to take control for good at 56-48.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.