RENO, Nev. — Finishing games had been an issue of late for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team. But there is a difference between not closing strong in the regular season and not doing so in the postseason.

The Rainbow Warriors found out what that difference is last night after their season ended with a 62-58 loss to Fresno State in the play-in game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Lawlor Events Center.

"I thought our guys had control of the game for 39 minutes, but made some mistakes in that last minute that perhaps cost us the game," Hawai'i coach Bob Nash said.

The 'Bows built leads of 11 (51-40) midway through the second half and then five (57-52) with 3:17 to play, only to see them evaporate. The Bulldogs' Dwight O'Neil then provided the only lead change of the second half with a 12-foot baseline jumper with 22 second left that made it 59-58 and proved to be the game-winner.

It was the third time in the past month the 'Bows let a game slip through their fingers. They were up seven with 2:14 to play against Nevada on Feb. 14 before losing by one, and had a five-point advantage with 3:07 left before losing to San Jose State 11 days ago.

"We didn't finish games this year. We have to learn how to finish games," said Nash, whose team finished 13-17.

Fresno State (13-20) will meet top-seeded Utah State in the quarterfinals tomorrow afternoon.

After O'Neil's jumper went through, Kareem Nitoto dribbled past his man and had a path to the basket before the Bulldogs' leading shot blocker, Sylvester Seay, slid over to help.

But Seay did not go for the block.

Instead, he took what Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said was his first charge of the season.

"Maybe it was the first one of the year, but I took it at least," said Seay, who had a team-high 16 points and three blocks.

"I wasn't thinking about him at all," said Nitoto, who had 15 points to go along with Roderick Flemings' 18. "I just wanted to go up and finish the ball. I knew someone was going to come contest my shot, but I just wanted to finish the ball as strong as I could. That's what I did, and I guess he got in position and took the charge."

Mychal Ladd, who tied the score at 57 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:14 to play, sank a pair of free throws and Flemings' 3-point attempt over a double team came up well short with four seconds left. Brandon Sperling added a free throw for the final margin.

The victory was the Bulldogs' first in three meetings against Hawai'i.

"It is very difficult to beat a team three times," Nash said.

One difference between the previous wins and yesterday's loss was the presence of O'Neil, who did not play in either of the first two games because of a suspension issued by Cleveland.

O'Neil had 14 points, four assists and two steals, and caught Nash's attention with his aggressiveness in attacking the basket and defense against Flemings, who was 7-of-14 from the field.

"With about 9 (minutes) left, I told myself that I wasn't going to shut up, I wasn't going to quit," said O'Neil, Fresno State's lone senior. "I was going to yell and stay animated to keep the team focused. I'm just rejoiced to play another game. My career isn't over yet. We get to play another game."

And so the 'Bows will have to live with their missed opportunities, but not only late in the game. Hawai'i held Fresno State without a field goal for 10:41 in the first half yet held just a five-point lead, 28-23, at the intermission.

"We have to build on this negative," Nash said. "Next year this league is going to be stronger. We just have to get these guys up to speed, get a little more maturity, get a couple more players to go along with them, and hopefully be right back here with a better result."