In its final — and most important — game of the regular season, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball fell flat.

New Mexico State defeated the Rainbow Warriors, 70-59, tonight before a crowd of 4,698 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

As a result, Hawai'i fell into the play-in game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament next week at Reno, Nev.

The 'Bows finished the regular season 13-16 and on a four-game losing streak. They finished eighth in the nine-team WAC at 5-11.

The 'Bows will meet ninth-place Fresno State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. (Hawai'i time). The winner of that game will face No. 1 seed Utah State in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Hawai'i committed 21 turnovers and shot just 32.1 percent from the field.

Kareem Nitoto led the 'Bows with 11 points. Bill Amis added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Roderick Flemings scored nine, marking just the second game this season he did not score in double-figures.

Turnovers doomed the 'Bows from the start.

The game was tied at 4 early, then Hawai'i committed five consecutive turnovers, which allowed the Aggies to take a 12-4 lead.

The 'Bows responded with an 11-0 run to take a 15-12 lead, but the Aggies took advantage of more Hawai'i turnovers later in the half.

Hawai'i committed six turnovers in the final seven minutes of the half. NMSU outscored the 'Bows 14-3 during that time to take a 35-25 lead at intermission.

The 'Bows finished the first half with 14 turnovers and a .350 field goal percentage.

The Aggies increased the lead to 45-31 early in the second half, and Hawai'i never got closer than nine after that.

NMSU played the entire first half without sophomore wing Jahmar Young, who leads the WAC in scoring with 18.5 points per game. He was not in the starting lineup as a "coaches decision." He finished with six points.

Troy Gillenwater led the Aggies with 18 points. Wendell McKines added 16 points and 11 rebounds. NMSU finished the regular season 16-14, and will be the No. 5 seed at the WAC Tournament at 9-7.