It will be more about redemption than revenge for Julian Sensley and the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team tomorrow.

The Rainbow Warriors will try to avenge their only loss of the season when they host UNLV at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Runnin' Rebels beat Hawai'i, 67-61, on Nov. 22 at Las Vegas.

"You can't talk about revenge factor on this level," Hawai'i coach Riley Wallace said. "It's more about preparation factor. We just need to be better prepared this time."

It starts with Sensley.

The 6-foot-9 senior forward was held scoreless for the only time in his career in the loss at UNLV. His forgettable night included 0-for-11 shooting from the field, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range.

Deonte Tatum, who is a co-captain with Sensley, said: "I definitely don't think we'll see that from Julian again the rest of this year."

Prior to that game, Sensley had scored in all 63 appearances in a Hawai'i uniform. Even with the shutout game, Sensley is averaging 14.0 points per game this season.

"I took it personal that they were able to shut me out," he said. "But it was all me. I never like to think that one person or one team can stop me. I stopped myself. I just never got in a rhythm that whole game and I let it get to me."

Sensley came back with a vengeance in his next game, recording 22 points and eight rebounds in an 82-64 victory over Saint Louis on Nov. 26.

"We don't want Julian to think he has something to pay back," Wallace said. "He just has to get his same shots off the stuff we always work on. If he does what he normally does, he'll put up good numbers. He had a bad game (at UNLV), that's all."

Sensley was quick to dismiss rumors that he was having personal problems prior to the UNLV game.

"There's a million excuses people can come up with," he said. "But basically, it came down to (UNLV) getting up in us with that aggressive defense and taking us out of our game."

Indeed, it wasn't just Sensley who struggled at UNLV.

The 'Bows went 1 for 17 from 3-point range against the Rebels. In its two victories this season, Hawai'i went 21 of 45 from long range.

"We shot bad because their defense pressured us," Wallace said. "So that's what we've been working on all this week."

As Tatum put it: "You can't put the blame on one man. It wasn't a good game for any of us. It's a team game, and if one guy struggles, the others have to pick it up."

REBELS ON ROAD SWING

UNLV arrived in Honolulu last night for the third game of a four-game road trip.

The Rebels lost at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, and then lost at Oregon State on Saturday.

After playing Hawai'i, UNLV will play at Minnesota on Saturday.

The Rebels were forced on the road for two weeks because the national rodeo finals are being staged at the Thomas & Mack Center.

MORE GAMES IN FUTURE

Tomorrow's game is part of a non-conference home-and-home series between the 'Bows and Rebels.

Wallace said the teams may try it again next season.

"It makes the most sense with (UNLV)," Wallace said. "People from Hawai'i want to go there, and people from Vegas want to come here."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.