The Fresno and 'Hawaii' beat reporters check in

Here's Daniel Lyght:

Bulldogs, O'Neil prove clutch
Fresno State senior the spark in a comeback victory against Hawaii
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
March 11, 2009

RENO, Nev. - For 12 Bulldogs, Tuesday night's play-in game of the Western Athletic Conference tournament could have been the final game of their season. For one Bulldog, it could have been the last of his career.

Each athlete played like it, summoning the most intensity they've played with all season. And finally, when the Bulldogs needed a defensive stop, they got one. When they needed their freshmen to play like sophomores, they did. When they had to hit free throws, the ball stood on the lip and dropped. And when they needed their senior to lead, he did.

With the game on the line, senior Dwight O'Neil hit a shot to take the lead, junior Sylvester Seay took a key charge, and freshmen Mychal Ladd and Brandon Sperling hit free throws to seal the game as Fresno State beat Hawaii 62-58 to lengthen its season...

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Chris Gabel of the Reno Gazette-Journal took on the task of supplying a game report to the Honolulu Advertiser:

'Bows lack finishing touch in losing, 62-58
Chris Gabel
Special to The Advertiser
March 11, 2009

RENO, Nev. — Finishing games had been an issue of late for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team. But there is a difference between not closing strong in the regular season and not doing so in the postseason.

The Rainbow Warriors found out what that difference is last night after their season ended with a 62-58 loss to Fresno State in the play-in game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Lawlor Events Center.

"I thought our guys had control of the game for 39 minutes, but made some mistakes in that last minute that perhaps cost us the game," Hawai'i coach Bob Nash said.

The 'Bows built leads of 11 (51-40) midway through the second half and then five (57-52) with 3:17 to play, only to see them evaporate. The Bulldogs' Dwight O'Neil then provided the only lead change of the second half with a 12-foot baseline jumper with 22 second left that made it 59-58 and proved to be the game-winner...

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