Hawaii 94, New Mexico St. 71

2/1/2008 1:45 AM

HONOLULU (AP) -Matt Gibson scored 20 points to lead Hawaii to a 94-71 victory over New Mexico State Thursday night.

Jared Dillinger scored a career-high 19 points for Hawaii (9-11, 5-3 Western Athletic Conference). Riley Luettgerodt added 17 points and Bobby Nash 16 for the Rainbow Warriors.

Hatila Passos led New Mexico State (11-12, 5-3 WAC) with a career-high 25 points. Herb Pope added a career-high 16 for the Aggies before fouling out with 4:34 remaining in the game.

Hawaii took control of the game with a three-minute, 11-0 run midway through the first half to go up 34-19 on Dillinger's 3-pointer with 6:39 remaining. The Rainbow Warriors forced six New Mexico State turnovers during the stretch, including two steals by Gibson, as the Aggies could not get a shot off during the Hawaii run.

Hawaii led 43-29 at halftime.

New Mexico State pulled to within 10, 57-47, midway through the second half. But Hawaii responded with a 13-2 run to take a 70-49 lead on Gibson?s fast break layup with 6:54 remaining. The Aggies would get no closer than 17 the rest of the way.

The Rainbow Warriors capitalized with 24 points off 24 Aggie turnovers.