If it's a "White-Out" game, then it must be big.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will have to come up big tonight when it hosts New Mexico State in a Western Athletic Conference game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Rainbow Warriors are 14-10 overall and in sixth place in the WAC at 5-6. The Aggies are 18-6 overall and in second place at 8-3.

"As far as I'm concerned, they have the most individual talent in the league," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said of the Aggies. "Their guards are quick and can shoot the 3, and they have big guys inside who can do a lot of different things. We have our work cut out for us."

New Mexico State defeated the 'Bows, 92-86, Jan. 4 in Las Cruces, N.M. That is the most points an opponent has scored against Hawai'i since the 2000-01 season.

The Aggies lead the WAC in scoring with 80.1 points per game. Interestingly, Wallace said he would not mind getting into a high-scoring game tonight — as long as the 'Bows have the higher score at the end.

"That game at their place was tough because it's the road, where the altitude can get to you," Wallace said. "But here, we have the energy. And it's not like we're a slow-it-down team. We're best when we're running, too."

Wallace is more concerned about the Aggies' inside game. New Mexico State starts 6-foot-9 Tyrone Nelson at power forward and 6-10 Hatila Passos at center.

Nelson was an All-WAC first-team selection last year; Passos was the junior college player of the year last season.

The Aggies also have Martin Iti, a 7-foot center, in reserve. He had six dunks and finished with 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting against Hawai'i last month.

"Any of those big guys can hurt us," Wallace said. "So we can't let them get in position where they can get the ball under the basket and dunk it."

Hawai'i will counter New Mexico State's big trio with 6-8 starting center Ahmet Gueye, 6-8 starting forward P.J. Owsley, and 6-10 Stephen Verwers in reserve.

"It's definitely a challenge," Gueye said. "Most of the teams we play against have shorter players. But the way we're playing defense right now, we feel confident against anybody."

Over its last five games, Hawai'i is allowing 54.8 points per game, and opponents are shooting 30.7 percent from the field. Hawai'i is 4-1 in those games, including a 74-50 rout of Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

"We're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Owsley said. "We know Nevada is at the top of the WAC, but New Mexico State is next, so this is a game we really want to prove something."

The timing could also work to Hawai'i's advantage. Tonight will be the Aggies' third consecutive road game. They lost at Utah State last Monday, and lost at Fresno State on Saturday.

"I would imagine we feel a little wounded," New Mexico State head coach Reggie Theus said. "It's been a tough road trip. The good part for us is that we had done so well early, we built a little cushion."

The 'Bows are also hoping to create an advantage in the Stan Sheriff Center, where all fans are supposed to wear white.

"I love it when I see all that white. It's beautiful," Gueye said.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.