It might not have been the same as that big party in New Orleans, but the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team finally got to have a good time, too.

The Rainbow Warriors snapped a four-game home losing streak with a 74-66 victory over Centenary yesterday.

A crowd of 2,422 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Hawai'i improve to 4-8. Centenary dropped to 7-7.

"It shows that we bought into what the coaches were saying and we played our butts off," senior forward Bobby Nash said.

Without a pep band, cheerleaders or dancers — who are all in New Orleans for the Allstate Sugar Bowl — the 'Bows motivated themselves.

Prior to the start of the game, Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash read a quote to his players from legendary former UCLA coach John Wooden: "It's amazing how much can get accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit."

The 'Bows then went out and shared responsibilities on offense and defense.

Nash led the way with 21 points. Jared Dillinger added a career-high 17 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.

Matt Gibson had 12 points and eight assists; Riley Luettgerodt scored 11; Bill Amis scored nine on 4-of-4 shooting.

"It was all off of moving and finding each other," Bob Nash said. "Any time you get almost five guys in double figures, that means they're sharing the basketball with each other."

The 'Bows also won by reversing a frustrating trend. During its four-game losing streak, Hawai'i rallies came up short due to crucial errors.

Yesterday, Hawai'i erased a 13-point deficit in the first half, then held off Centenary's second-half comeback attempt.

"We talked early in the week about playing with pride, playing with passion, on both ends of the court," Bob Nash said. "I think our guys — in the second half, especially — did a really nice job of controlling tempo."

Hawai'i out-scored the Gents 44-32 in the second half. The 'Bows also shot 60.9 percent from the field in the second half, while Centenary shot 37.1 percent.

But early on, it was all Centenary. The Gents opened the game with an emphatic dunk by Nick Stallings, and then raced to a 16-4 lead. They eventually increased it to 26-13.

Bob Nash noted that the band was not there to play Hawaii Five-O, and the cheerleaders did not lead the team onto the court with the big "H" flag.

What's more, the relatively small crowd was quiet during the opening minutes, and the Centenary bench players chanting "de-fense ... de-fense, ... de-fense," could be heard throughout.

"It was just a weird beginning for us," Bob Nash said.

But the 'Bows got going behind the inspired play of Dillinger. The 6-foot-5 senior scored 10 points during a 12-2 run that tied the game at 30.

"I was pumped up — I was jumping around," he said. "I think it helped our defense on the other end. Everyone was hyped. Everyone was like 'all right, let's go. We're back in the game.' "

Dillinger went 6 of 9 from the field to snap out of a shooting funk. During the four-game losing streak, he was averaging 5.0 points per game while going 7 of 25 (28 percent) from the field.

He credited post-practice shooting sessions with Gibson and Luettgerodt for his performance yesterday.

"We all know we're good shooters, it's just maintaining that shooter's confidence," he said.

Hawai'i took its first lead of the game with 14:44 remaining when Luettgerodt made a driving layup and got fouled. He made the ensuing free throw to give the 'Bows a 39-38 advantage.

"We're a young team, and I thought our youthfulness really showed up," Centenary head coach Rob Flaska said. "We had some mistakes ... lackadaisical mistakes.

"Our young guys, they got too concerned with the officiating and should have just been concerned about playing."

Flaska was assessed a technical foul midway through the second half for arguing. He said he did not use profanities and the technical "was not justified at all."

"I'd rate it up there as one of the weakest ones I've had," he said. "I was just trying to talk to him and he T's me."

The 'Bows then scored four points to take a 46-42 lead they would not relinquish.

Stallings led Centenary with 24 points, and Tyrone Hamilton added 19.

The Gents made it exciting with a barrage of long 3-pointers in the closing minutes, but Hawai'i went 7 of 8 on free throws in the final 1:02 to clinch it. The 'Bows were 18 for 23 on free throws. The Gents were 6 of 12, including 0 for 5 in the second half.

"There was no doubt that the game was decided by experience," Flaska said.

The 'Bows are scheduled to depart Honolulu this morning. They will open the Western Athletic Conference season at Utah State on Thursday.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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