University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin said that defense wasn’t the problem in the Warriors’ 35-31 loss to Utah State Saturday.

"I still think we have a good defense," McMackin said on the Western Athletic Conference coaches’ teleconference today.

UH led 28-7 at halftime.

"Part of our problem (is) we only scored three points in the second half," McMackin said. "So, we couldn’t keep up with their scoring. We couldn’t answer back the scoring and I think that hurt us."

McMackin said the injury to Utah State starting quarterback Chuckie Keeton that resulted in the insertion of backup Adam Kennedy, "sort of flip flops your game plan because he (Kennedy) is a thrower and he made two great throws and they made great catches. We were sort of set up for the freshman (Keeton) who was a liitle more inaccurate (in) his passing game and this guy came in and really did a good job. He was obviously ready."

UH plays at Nevada Saturday in an ESPN game.