Maybe the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is on a streak of good luck now.

One day after a buzzer-beating 54-53 road victory at Louisiana Tech, the Rainbow Warriors experienced no travel problems on the way from Ruston, La., to Las Cruces, N.M., yesterday.

"Everything went smooth for a change," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "No problems."

The 'Bows will play a Western Athletic Conference game at New Mexico State today.

The 'Bows are 10-10 overall and tied for seventh place in the WAC at 2-6. The Aggies are 10-11 overall and in fifth place at 4-4.

The game will start at 4 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at the Pan American Center. It will be broadcast live via radio on ESPN 1420 AM.

After winning on the road for the first time this season, the 'Bows were rewarded with a good night's rest. They departed Ruston late yesterday morning and arrived in Las Cruces in the early evening.

"We decided to let the guys sleep in," Nash said. "In the past we tried to leave early so we can get to the next city early. But the guys would end up tired the rest of the day. This way, the guys are well-rested for practice."

The 'Bows completed a short practice last night at the Pan American Center.

"I'm sure the outcome of (Thursday's) game has a positive effect," Nash said. "But we can't rest on that. We got that one, but think how much better we'd feel if we got two."

It's not going to be easy.

For starters, the 'Bows have never won in three previous trips to Las Cruces.

Second, the Aggies have a talented squad that leads the WAC in scoring at 77.1 points per game. Hawai'i is ranked eighth at 64.1 points per game, which should make for a clash of styles.

"We're going to have to do what ever it takes for us to control the tempo," Nash said. "If that means we have to slow it down and run the shot clock, then we'll do that. As long as we can still get a good shot, and not turn the ball over before that, we'll be OK."

The game will also feature the two leading individual scorers in the WAC.

New Mexico State sophomore Jahmar Young is first at 18.0 points per game. He scored a season-high 32 points in the Aggies' 89-81 win over San Jose State on Thursday. He also leads the conference with 48 3-pointers.

"He shoots the ball well and he shoots the ball often," Nash said. "We have to be aware of him at all times."

The Aggies also have the WAC's leading rebounder in Wendell McKines. The 6-foot-6 sophomore is averaging 9.6 boards per game. He is also one of four Aggies averaging double-figure points.

"They can present a lot of problems," Nash said. "They have great athletes at every position. We just have to counter by staying within our system."

Hawai'i junior Roderick Flemings is second in the WAC with 17.0 points per game.

"We have to stay together and do the things we did (Thursday) — make the extra pass and stay in our offensive sets," Nash said. "You saw we had three guys score in double-figures that game, and that was a key."

Flemings scored 17 in the win at LaTech. Bill Amis added 14 and Petras Balocka scored 10, including the game-winning putback at the buzzer.

Nash used just seven players in the victory at LaTech, but said he will likely use more today.

"We had guys playing a lot of minutes, so we'll try to give them quicker rests," he said. "There's a little bit of altitude, and it's the second game on the trip, so we'll have to get more guys in there."

Lasha Parghalava did not play, and Adhar Mayen played just one minute on Thursday, but Nash said it had nothing to do with discipline.

"I trust all my guys," he said. "But we went with the group that was doing the best at running our offense. We're going to need everybody (today)."