In search of a new experience on the road, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team arrived in a new city yesterday.

The Rainbow Warriors will continue their quest for an elusive road victory today when they play New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Aggies are in their first year in the Western Athletic Conference, so this is the first meeting between the teams in Las Cruces.

"It's not that bad," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We got in OK — got enough rest. And we had a good workout (last night), so we're as ready as we can be."

The 'Bows lost a WAC game at Louisiana Tech, 65-62, on Thursday. Hawai'i has lost 17 of its last 19 road games, including all three this season.

The 'Bows are 8-5 overall and tied for second place in the conference at 2-1.

New Mexico State is 6-8 overall and tied with Hawai'i and Nevada at 2-1 in the WAC. The Aggies upset Fresno State, 73-70, on Thursday.

"They're small, but they're really quick and they can shoot," Wallace said of the Aggies. "And they're improving every game."

Reggie Theus, a former NBA all-star, is in his first season as head coach of the Aggies. They have already matched their win total from last season, when they went 6-24, including just 1-14 in the Sun Belt Conference.

"They run a lot of standard stuff," Wallace said. "We have to work more on our stuff — cutting down the turnovers, especially."

The 'Bows committed several crucial turnovers in the closing minutes at LaTech.

"They trapped us a lot more than we expected," Wallace said. "We just have to get better at finding the open man."

Senior point guard Deonte Tatum played the entire second half against LaTech. He passed for a career-high 10 assists, but also committed five turnovers — all in the second half.

"I left him in there too long," Wallace said. "I should have gave him a couple minutes rest, but it was such a tight game, I wanted him in there."

Freshman Dominic Waters played six minutes in the first half in relief of Tatum. Fellow freshman point guard Hiram Thompson did not play for the first time in five games.

"I didn't think the game was right for (Thompson's) style," Wallace said.

Hawai'i's five starters combined to score all 62 points in the loss at LaTech.

But the Aggies got just six points off the bench and committed 28 turnovers in the victory over Fresno State.

NMSU normally starts three guards — 6-foot Mike Mitchell, 5-11 Elijah Ingram and 6-3 Ted Knauber — alongside two forwards.

"Same story, our size against their quickness," Wallace said.

But the Aggies' top player is 6-9 sophomore forward Tyrone Nelson, who averages 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Hawai'i will counter with four starters 6-6 and taller. Julian Sensley, a 6-9 forward, will likely have to defend one of the NMSU guards.

In any case, Wallace said the 'Bows will try an old superstition today by eating their pregame meal at a Golden Corral restaurant. They found road success when eating at Golden Corrals in the early 2000s.

"We're pulling out all the stops," Wallace said. "It was right near the hotel when we pulled up so hopefully that was a sign."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.