For one half, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team was able to slow New Mexico State's offense.

But the Aggies shot 69.2 percent and scored 58 points in the second half last night en route to their 10th straight win — a 92-86 conquest of the Rainbow Warriors in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

New Mexico State used a 14-2 second-half run to turn a one-point deficit into an 11-point lead, which turned out to be too much for the 'Bows to overcome.

The Aggies are now 9-0 at home this season and have won 13 straight in the Pan American Center dating to last season. They improved to 11-3 overall this season.

The win ended Hawai'i's five-game winning streak, dropping the 'Bows to 9-5 overall.

"New Mexico State was the aggressor in the second half," Hawai'i guard Matt Gibson said. "It wasn't officiating, it was them coming out and executing and taking it to us. They found a way to beat our zone and got a lot of easy baskets. New Mexico State is a good team, they are well-coached."

NMSU head coach Reggie Theus said: "This was a big win for us. Hawai'i is one of the top four teams in the league. They really executed their offense and made things tough for us."

Matt Lojeski led Hawai'i with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Three other 'Bows reached double-figures: Gibson and reserve Riley Luettgerodt each with 16, and Bobby Nash with 11.

But the Aggies had six players in double-figures, and became the first team to reach 90 points against Hawai'i since TCU did it in 2001. It ended a streak of 183 consecutive games that Hawai'i had held its opponent below 90.

"Reggie Theus has a good basketball team, it plays with a lot of discipline," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "If they can prove they can play on the road, they will be very tough. They are also starting to get healthy and that's a key. I thought New Mexico State's pressure bothered us."

The Aggies also turned up the heat on defense in the second half, scoring 18 points off 13 Hawai'i turnovers.

The game was much like last year's game in Las Cruces, an 87-84 win by NMSU.

The teams traded baskets like two brawlers exchanging punches. There were 10 lead changes and nine ties in the game. New Mexico State shot 53.6 percent for the game, while Hawai'i shot 48.6 percent.

The difference came at the foul line, where NMSU made 25 of 35 free throws, and Hawai'i was 10 of 12. The Aggies were 17 of 22 in the second half.

New Mexico State was averaging 32 free throws per game entering yesterday's game.

"It's no secret what our game plan is," Theus said. "We have a good mix of inside, outside play."

The six Aggies who scored in double figures were: Justin Hawkins with 18, reserve center Martin Iti with 14, Elijah Ingram with 13, Shaun Davis with 12, and David Fisher and Hatila Passos each with 11.

Iti, a 7-foot junior, went 7 of 7 from the field — including six dunks — and scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half.

The Aggies hurt Hawai'i in the paint in the second half, especially when center Ahmet Gueye fouled out with 6:45 remaining in the game. He played just 21 minutes, and finished with four points and six rebounds.

The 'Bows were also without reserve center Todd Follmer, who left the team on Thursday morning due to a family emergency in California.

"Losing Ahmet hurt us," Gibson said. "We all have to step up though, and help out. We have to continue to grow as a team."

Theus said: "Martin (Iti) was the difference in the game. He came in and gave us a lift, that helped push us over the top. We were able to get Hawai'i's best big man out of the game and that was huge."

Iti was playing with an injured left knee, which caused him to miss Monday's win at Chicago State.

"Iti got the emotion going for New Mexico State and I think we got caught up in the emotion as well," Wallace said. "And things got away from us for a stretch of time."

A season-high 23 turnovers also hurt Hawai'i, which lost its first game of the season when leading at the half. The 'Bows were 9-0 prior to yesterday's loss when leading at intermission.

"We did a good enough job with our zone in the first half," Wallace said. "I thought we got some good shots on the offensive end and had some momentum."

Hawai'i used a 12-4 run in the final 4:18 of the first half to take a 38-34 lead at intermission. The 'Bows led by five early in the second half, but the Aggies rallied and took the lead for good at 65-64.

NMSU led by as many as 11 with 5:06 remaining, but Luettgerodt kept Hawai'i close by scoring 14 of his 16 in the second half.

The 'Bows closed to 86-82 with 24.6 seconds left after a Gibson basket, and 89-86 with 4.2 seconds left on a Lojeski score. But Davis closed the scoring with a free throw and a layup.

Hawai'i won the battle of the boards, 38-31, with Gibson and Nash grabbing seven each.

The Aggies will play at Hawai'i on Feb. 12.

"New Mexico State plays with energy at home and we do, too," Lojeski said. "At home we play better and get to more loose balls. It'll be another good game. This is a good league."

Hawai'i will travel to Ruston, La., today and will play another WAC game tomorrow at Louisiana Tech, which beat San Jose State, 92-56, last night.