Now back to the hard part for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

The road.

The Rainbow Warriors departed Honolulu early Tuesday morning for Fresno, Calif. Hawai'i will play a Western Athletic Conference game at Fresno State on Thursday.

"They'll be ready for us," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "It's always kind of a rivalry game. If we really get ready and go in there and get hot, that's one we can steal away on the road."

At this point, the 'Bows will take any road win they can get. Hawai'i is 2-7 away from home this season, including 0-4 on the WAC road.

The 'Bows are 12-9 overall and 3-5 at the halfway point of the WAC regular season. Fresno State is 15-6 and 4-4.

Hawai'i defeated the Bulldogs, 83-66, on Jan. 11 at the Stan Sheriff Center. "They didn't play very strong defensively against us," Wallace said.

Hawai'i defeated Utah State, 69-61, in the Stan Sheriff Center on Monday. It was the first of three games in six days in three different cities for the 'Bows.

After Thursday's game, the 'Bows will travel to Reno, Nev., for another game at first-place Nevada on Saturday.

The annual road trip to Fresno and Reno has traditionally been a difficult one for the 'Bows.

Hawai'i is 2-13 against Fresno State in games played in Fresno, and 0-9 against Nevada in games played in Reno.

"I think these wins gave us a little edge back on going on the road," Hawai'i guard Matt Gibson said, referring to the team's two home wins over San Jose State and Utah State. "We feel like we can go down there and win against Fresno State. We're bound to win a couple road games, so hopefully it will come at the times we need it."

The 'Bows took a flight to San Francisco on Tuesday morning, and then chartered a bus for the rest of the trip. It was a three-hour bus ride from San Francisco to Fresno, and it will be an even longer ride from Fresno to Reno on Friday.

Wallace explained that the bus rides are actually faster than flights, when factoring in the early check-ins and waits at airports.

But two years ago, a snowstorm in Reno turned what was supposed to be a 5-hour bus ride from Fresno to Reno into a 14-hour ordeal.

"Let's just hope it doesn't happen again," Wallace said. "Hope we don't have to eat each other. We're going to bring sandwiches just in case."

When it comes to road struggles, the 'Bows are not alone. Through the first half of the WAC regular season, home teams are 28-8.

Five teams are undefeated at home in the WAC so far this season, including Fresno State (4-0) and Nevada (5-0).

Four teams are winless on the WAC road: Hawai'i, Fresno State, Idaho and San Jose State are all 0-4.

Who's manning point?

Junior point guard Matt Gibson scored 20 points in his first game as a reserve this season in the victory over Utah State on Monday.

He did not start for disciplinary reasons.

Sophomore Dominic Waters made his first start of the season in place of Gibson. Waters had five points, three assists and zero turnovers.

"They both played well, so I'm not sure what we'll do," Wallace said. "I'll make the decision that's best for the team."

The only difference will be which player will be called the starter because both will see action, Wallace said. Against Utah State, Waters played 18 minutes and Gibson played 23.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH

Hawai'i's non-conference game at Long Beach State on Feb. 17 will also be a difficult test.

The 49ers are 13-6 overall, but 8-0 at home in the Walter Pyramid.

Long Beach State uses a perimeter-oriented offense, with three guards averaging double-figure points. Aaron Nixon, a 6-2 senior, is averaging 17.2 points per game; Kejuan Johnson, a 6-4 senior, is averaging 15.1 points per game; Kevin Houston, a 5-10 senior, is averaging 10.2 points per game.

NOTE

Hawai'i senior guard John Wilder will remain ineligible for the rest of the season due to academic reasons. Head coach Riley Wallace said Wilder is "still a part of the team" although he can not travel on road trips.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.