The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team has displayed an ability to rebound in games.

Now, the Rainbow Warriors must display an ability to rebound from a loss.

Hawai'i dozed off for a few minutes in the late moments of a late-night game and it cost them in an 81-75 loss to Northern Colorado.

The game — which was for the championship of the 46th annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic — started at 11 p.m. on Monday and finished after 1 a.m. on Tuesday.

"I thought we hit a patch there where we self-inflicted some wounds with some ill-advised shots and turning the ball over and that gave Northern Colorado some runouts that led to easy baskets," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "It was only for a few minutes, but against good, experienced teams, you can't afford to have lapses like that."

In a four-minute stretch late in the second half, the Bears went on a 17-0 run to turn a 52-all tie into a 69-52 lead.

Jeremy Lay sparked a furious Hawai'i rally in the closing minutes, as the 'Bows got as close as 76-74 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears sealed the win by draining 5 of 6 free throws in the final 20 seconds.

Nash and his coaching staff held a film-review "teaching" session with the team yesterday.

"We're going to learn from this," Nash said. "But at the same time, we have to let this one go and start thinking about BYU."

The 'Bows will host Brigham Young on Friday.

"You can learn a lot through wins, but you can also learn through losses," Lay said. "We know that we can't have those gaps where we don't play too well. We have to play a full 40 minutes."

The 'Bows went 2-1 in the season-opening Rainbow Classic, and learned much about themselves in the tournament.

• Even without key post players Bill Amis (foot injury) and Douglas Kurtz (NCAA suspension), the 'Bows appear to be a solid rebounding team.

Hawai'i won the rebounding battle in all three of its games, and out-rebounded opponents, 116-80.

"That's something we work hard on in practice every day," Nash said. "Bill and Doug are certainly losses, but we still have some size without them. When we do get those guys back, we feel we'll be even stronger in the post."

• Guards Lay and Dwain Williams are exciting additions, but they are still learning the Hawai'i schemes.

Lay went 8 for 21 from 3-point range and Williams went 7 of 27 in the three games. Nash noted that many of the long-range shots did not come within the flow of the Hawai'i offense.

"I'm certainly not going to blame those guys, but they still need to learn when and where to take a good shot," Nash said. "What I do like is that we have some competitive guards who are not going to back down. They just have to stay composed and not try to go one-on-one."

• The backcourt trio of Lay, Williams and Hiram Thompson will have to learn to stay out of foul trouble.

Thompson was limited to 20 minutes against Northern Colorado due to foul trouble.

"Hiram keeps us in balance," Nash said. "When he fouled out, we went with a new guard front and the offense changed."

• Roderick Flemings is an all-around talent who will have to help the 'Bows in a variety of ways this season.

Although he is more comfortable at a wing position, the 6-foot-7 Flemings played mostly in the low post in the Rainbow Classic due in part to the absences of Amis and Kurtz.

All Flemings did was average 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, while playing 38.3 minutes (out of a maximum 40).

He was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Monday, and was also one of three 'Bows selected to the Rainbow Classic all-tournament team (Lay and Williams also made it).

• Late-night games — and free admission for UH students — make for a vibrant atmosphere.

An energetic crowd of 2,513 at the Stan Sheriff Center stayed up to be a part of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.

"I like the new format (of the Rainbow Classic) and I thought it was an awesome atmosphere," Nash said. "Hopefully we can keep the (Outrigger Hotels) sponsorship and keep this late-night game with ESPN and do it again next year."