The University of Hawai‘i men's basketball team stayed close to the first place team, but it was not enough tonight.

The Rainbow Warriors lost to Louisiana Tech, 65-60.

A crowd of 3,903 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows drop to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the Western Athletic Conference.

LaTech improved to 18-3 and moved back into first place at 6-1. The 'Bows are in seventh place in the nine-team WAC.

Brandon Adams led Hawai'i with 20 points and nine rebounds. Roderick Flemings added 17 points and six rebounds.

The 'Bows committed a season-low five turnovers, but got out-rebounded, 43-32.

The 'Bows also shot just 37.1 percent from the field, including just 1 of 13 from 3-point range.

The first half was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than five points at any stage. The lead changed six times in the first half, and LaTech eventually took a 31-30 lead at intermission.

Adams led the Hawai‘i effort in the first half, scoring 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

It stayed close early in the second half, then the Bulldogs took control with an 8-2 run that gave them a 50-43 lead with 8:52 remaining.

LaTech increased the lead to as many as nine, but Hawai‘i made it exciting at the end.

A putback by Flemings cut the LaTech lead to 61-57 with 42.8 seconds remaining. Jeremy Lay then scored on a driving layup with 33.8 seconds left to make it 61-59.

Kyle Gibson went 4 for 4 on free throws in the final 32 seconds to secure the win for LaTech. He had missed three free throws earlier, allowing the ‘Bows to get close in the final minute.

Magnum Rolle led the Bulldogs with 23 points and 17 rebounds. It was the most rebounds by a Hawai‘i opponent this season.

Hawai‘i played its third consecutive game without junior guard Dwain Williams, who is attending the funeral of his cousin in California this weekend. He is second on the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game, and leads the ‘Bows with 31 3-pointers.

The ‘Bows are scheduled to depart Honolulu on Tuesday for a two-game WAC road trip. They will play at San Jose State on Thursday, then at Nevada on Saturday.