The new Western Athletic Conference season started the same way the last one ended for the University of Hawai'i men¹s basketball team.

With a loss to Boise State.

The Broncos defeated the Rainbow Warriors, 70-58, tonight in the WAC opener for both teams.

A "White Out" crowd of 4,650 — the largest of the season — at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Hawai'i drop to 8-5 overall. Boise State, the defending WAC champion, improved to 10-3.

Roderick Flemings scored 21 points, and Petras Balocka contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds for Hawai'i. But it was not enough to overcome a Boise State attack that shot 50 percent from the field, and made seven 3-pointers.

Hawai'i shot 36.2 percent from the field, and shot a season-low 5 of 10 on free throws.

Kurt Cunningham led the Broncos with 14 points, and Mark Sanchez added 12 points and 11 rebounds

The Broncos went on a 13-2 run midway through the first half to take a 28-17 lead. Paul Noonan sparked the surge with two 3-pointers.

Hawai'i shot just 33 percent from the field in the first half, but still managed to cut the Boise State lead to 35-29 at halftime.

The Broncos shot 56 percent from the field in the first half, including 67 percent (6 of 9) from 3-point range.

Boise State pushed the lead back to 11 early in the second half, but the 'Bows got back in it with a 13-3 flurry that cut the Broncos' lead to 45-44 with 11:57 remaining. Nitoto ignited the Hawai'i rally with two steals and two assists.

The 'Bows finally caught the Broncos at 51 on a 3-pointer by Adhar Mayen with 9:24 remaining. But Boise State responded with six straight points to regain control at 57-51 with 7:51 remaining.

The Broncos kept the lead the rest of the way.