It has been nine games now since the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team has had the services of both Bobby Nash and "Little Matt" Gibson and three since they've had either, but never has their absence loomed larger than it did last night.

Never has the void left by their sidelining seemed so critical.

For try as they might to root the Rainbow Warriors on from the bench in street clothes — Nash whipping a towel a la his father, Bob, and Gibson pumping a fist and exhorting his teammates — it was what they have been known to bring off the bench as players that UH missed most in a 58-55 loss to Pennsylvania.

For wont of one of their timely shots and energy, not to mention contribution to free-throw shooting in light of a .500 night (11 of 22 from the line), the 'Bows tumbled to 7-4 in their final tuneup before resuming Western Athletic Conference play.

UH led only once, 2-0, but seven times it closed the gap to one point. Each time the 'Bows were unable to manage the kind of breakthrough that Nash or Gibson could have supplied with a single shot.

It had to be the rare 'Bow fan in the Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 5,509 that saw Nash and Gibson on the bench and didn't wish for their return.

As such, are we beginning to see the start of a trend here; the first in a series of close home losses? You would hope not since the absence of both Nash and Gibson is looking like it could be for the season's duration.

When the season started with that Nov. 19 upset of then-fourth ranked Michigan State, the 'Bows seemed blessed with an abundance of both shooters and depth. Now, as the non-conference loss to the Quakers underlines, there is a noticeable shortage of both.

Nash is applying to the NCAA for a medical hardship year because of a shoulder injury and Gibson (complications from a staph infection) has missed eight games and could end up in the same situation unless he receives medical clearance soon.

On a night when UH's top two scorers, Julian Sensley and Ahmet Gueye, who had been averaging a combined 31 points per game, managed but nine between them, there was a lot of slack to be picked up and not much bench left to do it.

But the implication was clear: "If they can defend two of our five guys then the game is going to be in the 50s and we have a chance to lose if we don't execute and make our free throws," UH coach Riley Wallace lamented.

Getting past the likes of Northwest State, Loyola or North Carolina A&T with a limited bench is one thing. With the WAC opening Jan. 5 on a visit by defending champion Nevada, the 'Bows have their work cut out for them from here on out.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.