UNLV 71, Rice 61

Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

After beating Rice to open the Western Athletic Conference tournament Tuesday, UNLV coach Bill Bayno was more than ready to make his case for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

"I think if we win Thursday we deserve to be in there regardless of what happens with the other teams," Bayno said. "Right now we're on the bubble at 20-8. We just need to go out and try to beat Tulsa."

The Runnin' Rebels advanced to a Thursday game against Tulsa with a 71-61 home court win over Rice that gave UNLV its first 20-game winning season in four years.

It may not be enough to get an NCAA bid, however, if the Rebels can't get past Tulsa, which appears set for an NCAA tournament slot itself at 22-8.

"If we don't win that game I think we're on the bubble and still have a chance," Bayno said. "If not, well, we'll be in the NIT in this arena so that won't be so bad."

Keon Clark had 11 points and 11 rebounds and four other UNLV players scored in double figures Tuesday as the Runnin' Rebels opened the WAC tournament by beating Rice.

UNLV jumped off to a 13-2 lead and never trailed, opening up leads of as many as 17 points late in the first half before the Owls cut the halftime margin to 40-28.

Rice closed to within 43-35 early in the second half, holding UNLV to only one basket in the first six minutes of the half. But the Rebels responded with an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach before a small but appreciative crowd at UNLV's campus arena.

"Winning on the road in this league is probably one of the most difficult things you'll see in any league," said Rice coach Willis Wilson, whose Owls (12-15) finished with a losing record for the first time in seven years.

Warren Rosegreen, Tyrone Nesby and Jermaine Smith all had 12 points for UNLV, which also got 11 points from Damian Smith.

Shaun Igo, in his last game for Rice, scored 33 points and had 11 rebounds for the Owls. Alex Bougaieff added seven points and 12 rebounds.

"I was definitely trying to get us back in it," Igo said. "We just couldn't do it."

The Runnin' Rebels, who finished third in the WAC Pacific Division, were helped by a vocal crowd which half-filled the UNLV campus arena for the midday opening game.

It didn't take long for the crowd to get in the game, as UNLV went on a 11-0 run after the score was tied 2-2.

Rice had a few chances to get back into the game, but each time UNLV answered with a streak of its own. One of those came midway through the first half when Rice pulled to within 21-15 before Damian Smith hit three straight 3-pointers to put the Rebels back in command.

Rice threatened again in the second half when UNLV went cold, but UNLV's second 11-0 run of the game midway through the half gave UNLV a comfortable 17-point lead.