Immediately after the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team upset New Mexico State on Thursday, sophomore forward Bill Amis celebrated by ... lifting weights.

"I just feel like I need to get stronger," he said. "During the game, I was getting pushed around by their big guys, and I don't want that to happen."

It is proof that the Rainbow Warriors are staying grounded after the uplifting victory over the Aggies.

It is also the approach head coach Bob Nash is expecting from the 'Bows when they host last-place Louisiana Tech tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We still only have nine wins," Nash noted. "We're not in a position to take any team lightly."

Hawai'i is 9-11 overall and in fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference at 5-3. LaTech is 3-15 and 0-6.

The 'Bows will be without starting center P.J. Owsley, who left the New Mexico State game in the second half with an injured right knee. The 6-foot-8 senior is averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

"His leg is feeling better, but we don't want to risk any further injury," Nash said. "It's a matter of giving it time to heal and rest. We're optimistic he'll be back in a week or so."

Amis is expected to start in Owsley's spot. Without Owsley, the 'Bows will have nine players available tonight.

"It's safe to say we can't overlook any team, not in the situation we're in," Amis said. "We're just going to have to play with what we have. Play hard, but play smart."

The 'Bows did that against New Mexico State, reaching season highs for points (94), 3-pointers (11) and assists (25).

"Any time you get a big win like that, it boosts your confidence," senior forward Bobby Nash said. "But this team was never lacking confidence. We just have to do more of the same (today)."

The 'Bows have been undersized and undermanned all season — even before Owsley's injury.

But if there's a team that doesn't want to hear about the 'Bows' woes, it is Louisiana Tech.

The Bulldogs started the season with 10 players, and are now down to nine after forward Keith Smith was dismissed from the team two weeks ago for violating team rules.

They have just one senior on the roster, 5-8 reserve guard JJ Marshall.

LaTech's tallest players are both 6-7 — Adrian Rogers and Brandon Mims. Rogers is the team's starting center, and Mims is a freshman who is still developing.

Perhaps as a result of their short roster, the Bulldogs rank last in the WAC in several key statistics, including scoring (58.2 points per game), rebounding (29.2) and field-goal percentage (38.8).

"We knew it was going to be tough times, but I think that's part of athletics, is learning how to handle tough times," LaTech head coach Kerry Rupp said. "We have a group of guys that are really trying, giving good effort."

Bob Nash said of the Bulldogs: "Their personnel is what it is. So is ours. We're both going into this game with nine players. Hopefully our system with our nine guys will overcome theirs. It will still come down to execution."

Rupp is in his first season at LaTech. He took over for Keith Richard, who was fired after going 10-20 last season.

"It's a totally different system," Nash said. "Coach Richard liked to pound it inside with his big guys like (Paul) Millsap. Coach Rupp has a young team, but you can see they're going to be very good in years to come just by how hard they play."

The top Bulldog is Kyle Gibson, a 6-4 sophomore wing player. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding, with 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

"He's put up some numbers, but I don't know if we really try to go to him," Rupp said. "He's just a guy who has a good feel of how to score."

The 'Bows have their own version of a key Gibson in senior point guard Matt Gibson. He leads Hawai'i with 16.8 points and 5.0 assists per game.

Led by the Gibsons, the game should feature a match-up of perimeter-oriented teams. Both teams start four players who could be considered guards.

The 'Bows have Matt Gibson, Jared Dillinger, Riley Luett-gerodt and Bobby Nash. Those four combined for 72 points and went 10 of 21 from 3-point range Thursday.

"I think it's going to be an even game because their big men are versatile and will make us chase them all over the place," Bobby Nash said. "We just have to try and do the same thing to them on the other end."

The Bulldogs have not played since an 83-70 home loss to Nevada last Saturday. In effect, they had a whole week to prepare for — and travel to — Hawai'i.

"Travel is travel, that's part of the deal," Rupp said. "We don't concern ourselves with it. When we play, how many days in between, we don't worry about those things."

If anything, the Bulldogs may have some history on their side. LaTech has won six of the last seven games against Hawai'i, including three of four in the Sheriff Center.

"I've been a part of a lot of those," Bobby Nash said. "They always seem to play us tough, and match our aggressiveness, no matter what the records are. And they're hungry for a win this time, so that makes them a dangerous team."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.