Appropriate for a team in need of a spark, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team practiced at Sparks High School yesterday.

The Rainbow Warriors will look to end several losing skids when they play Nevada in a Western Athletic Conference game today at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev.

The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (Hawai'i time) and will be broadcast live via radio on ESPN 1420 AM.

The 'Bows, who are on a three-game losing streak, are 9-8 overall and in eighth place in the WAC at 1-4. The Wolf Pack, which is on a four-game winning streak, is 11-7 overall and in second place at 4-1.

The 'Bows arrived in Reno just before midnight Tuesday. After a night of sleep, they took advantage of their time yesterday with a morning workout at Sparks, then an evening shootaround at the Lawlor Events Center.

"I didn't want the guys sitting around all day, and the (Lawlor Center) wasn't available to us during the day, so we went over to the high school," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We've done this before, where we go hard in the morning and then go a little lighter and just get some shots up at night. Hopefully, it helps us get ready."

When it comes to playing in Reno, the 'Bows could use the help.

Hawai'i teams are 0-11 all-time against the Wolf Pack in games played in Reno.

"You can look at a lot of things — all the distractions with the casinos, the altitude — but the biggest thing is Nevada has had some really good teams," Nash said. "They've had a whole bunch of guys become pros in the last few years, so that tells you the kind of talent they had."

This year is no different.

The Wolf Pack has two WAC Player of the Year candidates in forward Luke Babbitt and point guard Armon Johnson.

Babbitt, a 6-foot-9 freshman, is fulfilling his hype as one of the top high school recruits in the country. He leads Nevada in scoring and rebounding with 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

"He's a key because he can stretch the floor," Nash said. "He can shoot the 3, but he's also big enough to go and score inside."

Johnson, who was last season's WAC Freshman of the Year, is averaging 14.8 points and 4.2 assists per game.

"He's the engine," Nash said. "He gets them going."

The 'Bows have their own All-WAC candidate in 6-7 junior wing Roderick Flemings. He leads the WAC in scoring with 17.6 points per game.

"He's obviously a key to our success," Nash said. "But when teams start double-teaming Rod, other guys need to step up as well. Rod's a good team player. He can do a lot of things to help us."

The 'Bows have struggled in recent weeks against zone defenses, but could get a respite of sorts today.

Nevada normally uses a man-to-man defense, but it is a tenacious one. The Wolf Pack leads the WAC in several defensive categories, including steals (7.3 per game) and field-goal percentage defense (.411).

"They have good athletes at every spot, and they do a good job of getting into the passing lanes to get tips and steals," Nash said. "We've had better success against man (to-man) than zone, so it might be a welcome change. But we're still preparing for both."

Hawai'i has also not won a road game since last January, a streak of nine consecutive losses away from home.

In Reno casinos, Nevada is being listed as a 15-point favorite.