Tulsa excited about trip here

Sure there is the sun and beaches, but one of the attractions of playing the University of Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl for Tulsa will be a national ranking.

The Golden Hurricane yesterday accepted an invitation to play the 25th-ranked Warriors in the Dec. 24 game at Aloha Stadium.

"We’re very excited about the opportunity to go to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and play a quality opponent in a 9-3 Hawaii team," Tulsa coach Todd Graham said before Hawaii won last night. "Hawaii is ranked in the Top 25 nationally, and for us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a Top 25 team would be awesome for our program."

Tulsa has been receiving votes in the Associated Press media poll and USA Today Coaches poll.

Tulsa, which is 9-3 and finished second in Conference USA’s Western Division, will be making its fifth bowl appearance in the past six years.

"Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players. Hawaii does a great job and have had some big-time wins. The location is a very special destination for us and naturally playing such a great team in Hawaii and having an opportunity to compete for a big win is huge for our program," said Graham.

The game will match two of the most productive offenses in the NCAA. Hawaii has the nation’s top passing offense with an average of 384.8 yards per game while ranking 10th in total offense (487.8) and 12th in scoring offense (38.3). Tulsa ranks fifth in total offense (503.5), ninth in scoring (39.6), 15th in rushing offense (219.3) and 16th in passing offense (284.1).

Silva sets interception mark

UH safety Mana Silva set the school record for interceptions with his 14th career pick — breaking a tie with Keone Jardine and Kelvin Millhouse — and eighth of the season in the end zone to thwart a UNLV scoring threat in the third quarter.

"I was very pleased I did it back at home," Silva said. "At New Mexico State (the previous week) I dropped two. It was kind of frustrating, but to finally get it at home was fitting."

The Warriors intercepted three passes last night, giving them multiple picks for the 10th straight game. The offense converted all three into touchdowns.

Safety Richard Torres picked off an Omar Clayton throw midway through the second quarter and returned it 43 yards to the UNLV 2. Linebacker Corey Paredes came up with his fourth interception of the season off a tip by cornerback Jeramy Bryant and ran it back 17 yards to end UNLV opening possession of the second half.

UH now has 23 interceptions as a team, three shy of the single-season record set in 1970.

UNLV president wants a dozen

UNLV president Neal Smatresk said he favors a 12-team Mountain West Conference.

Smatresk, who is vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors but conceded he was speaking only on UNLV’s behalf, said, "I think we need to secure the future of the league and make sure we have a strong league that can ultimately compete for a Bowl Championship Series position and can produce winning teams."

UH, when admitted, would be the 10th team in the MWC for the 2012-13 season.

"I believe there’s room for more than we currently have," Smatresk said. "Personally, I like the number 12."

Enos still perfect after 100 PATs

Scott Enos is the century man.

The senior kicker is now a perfect 100-for-100 for his UH career on extra-point attempts after nailing all eight tries last night. He also had a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter.

"It’s been a long season, a lot of fun, and the offense has been putting up a lot of points, giving me a lot of opportunities," said Enos, who already owns the UH single-season and career records for consecutive PATs. "I couldn’t thank them any more. It’s been awesome."

His last PAT after a Jake Heun touchdown plunge in the final minutes capped his senior night in style.

"I think it did. Just getting to that century mark, it felt great," Enos said.

Another big half for Pilares

For the second straight meeting, UH slotback Kealoha Pilares sliced through the UNLV secondary for a big first half.

Pilares had 13 receptions for 146 yards against UNLV last season, all but one catch coming in the first half of UH’s 34-33 loss in Las Vegas.

Pilares, who had "aloha" shaved into the side of his head, had a hot start again last night with seven receptions for 142 yards before halftime. He caught two passes, including a third-quarter touchdown, after the break to finish with a game-high 157 yards and raising his season total to 1,306 yards with 15 touchdowns.