LAS VEGAS — If there is a city that can show the difference between winning and losing, this is it.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team found that out the hard way, missing on several crucial opportunities in a 67-61 loss to UNLV last night.

An announced crowd of 12,108 at the Thomas & Mack Center watched the Rainbow Warriors drop to 1-1, due mostly to dismal shooting from the free-throw and 3-point lines. The Runnin' Rebels improved to 2-0.

"We knew they were going to pressure us defensively all over the court, but it was better than I thought it would be," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Their defense took us out of our offensive sets."

The 'Bows shot 44.3 percent from the field overall, but just 5.9 percent from 3-point range. After making 10 3-pointers in Saturday's upset of then-No. 4 Michigan State, Hawai'i went 1 for 17 from long range last night, and the only one made was by Matt Lojeski when the game was already decided with 8.7 seconds remaining.

"It was ridiculous," Lojeski said. "We have too many good shooters to have a night like that. I would say it's a fluke."

Perhaps more costly, the 'Bows were 6 of 18 from the free-throw line, including 3 of 12 in the second half.

"I'm not too worried about the 3s because (UNLV) didn't hit theirs, either," Wallace said. "But the free throws is what will cost you in close games and it did here."

It also didn't help that senior forward Julian Sensley, the team's best player, was held scoreless for the first time in his three-year career with the 'Bows. He shot 0 of 11 from the field, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range, although he did contribute four rebounds and four assists.

"I just couldn't shoot myself out of it," he said. "I kept shooting. I just couldn't find a rhythm. It was one of those days."

UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said: "I thought our guys worked hard on him, but he also had some looks that didn't go down. He's a good player and that's obviously a big rarity."

Forwards Ahmet Gueye and "Big Matt" Gipson kept the 'Bows in it throughout.

Gueye finished with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and seven rebounds. Gipson had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Lojeski, who hit six 3-pointers in the victory over Michigan State, finished with 10 points.

"We just could never get over that hump," Gipson said. "It was like we never had the momentum the whole game, even when it was close."

UNLV also had a poor shooting game, but got a monster performance from forward Louis Amundson. The 6-foot-9 senior had 22 points and 21 rebounds, including 19 boards in the second half.

"We feel like this is our floor, and you better play really good if you want to come here and beat us," Amundson said.

Kruger said: "I can't say enough about the game he had. Great pace, and he rebounded the ball like crazy."

Despite the poor shooting, the 'Bows stayed close from start to finish.

A driving one-handed dunk by Lojeski gave the 'Bows a 10-5 lead early in the game. But the Rebels responded with a 15-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 20-14 advantage.

UNLV later increased the lead to as much as nine, before eventually taking a 44-39 advantage at intermission.

The 'Bows used a two-three zone defense in the second half to prevent the UNLV guards from driving to the basket.

"We couldn't stop their penetration, so we went to zone," said Wallace, who normally sticks to a man-to-man defense. "But my best zone (defensive) team is not my best offensive team, so that hurt us."

Sensley, Gipson and "Little Matt" Gibson stayed on the bench for most of the second half.

As a result, the second half turned into an offensive struggle on both sides.

The Rebels shot just 25 percent from the field overall in the second half, including 0-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.

"We played great defense and that's what kept us in it," Wallace said. "But we just never got it together on offense all night."

The 'Bows were never able to regain the lead in the second half, although they had several chances. Among the most prominent missed opportunities: