Ute loss clears the way for UNLV

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

The Rebels have been granted one last shot at first place. Maybe they'll finally exploit this one.

UNLV threw away two previous chances to tie first-place Utah in the Mountain West, but its final opportunity is clearly the most valuable -- and most surprising.

Because Utah was pounded at Wyoming 88-61 on Monday night, the Rebels' assignment is clear. By winning Thursday at last-place San Diego State and defeating New Mexico here at noon Saturday, they would earn at least a Mountain West regular-season co-championship and the top seed in the conference tournament March 9-11 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Though the NCAA Tournament committee could still spurn UNLV on March 12, the stars seem to be aligning for the Rebels to make a last-gasp bid. They've done little to merit another chance, losing back-to-back at BYU and Utah when beating either would have gotten them into first place, but the Rebels (18-7) no longer must depend on outside help to achieve their MWC goals.

"Regardless of what happens with Utah, we have to take care of our own business," UNLV coach Bill Bayno said.

In the event of a tie, because UNLV and Utah split against each other, the Rebels would earn the No. 1 seed via the second tie-breaker -- their record against the next-highest finishing team. Beating New Mexico on Saturday would make the Rebels 2-0 against the Lobos, while Utah is 1-1.

Even if Wyoming finishes third, UNLV and Utah both split with the Cowboys, so the tiebreaker would still be their record against New Mexico.

The Rebels are in their fortuitous position because the Utes have come back to the pack. After drilling UNLV by 44 last Monday, Utah was swept by Colorado State (60-49) and Wyoming on the Front Range. It's the first time the Utes have lost two straight since Nov. 22-23, 1994 in the Maui Classic against Maryland and Michigan.

Utah has lost its last four road games and fallen to 9-4 in the MWC, a half-game ahead of UNLV and New Mexico, both 8-4. The Utes have also dropped out of both polls for the first time this season. They are 20-7 overall, heading into Saturday's home finale against Air Force.

Just as the Rebels played one of their worst games of the year at Wyoming, losing 109-98 on Jan. 31, Utah was similarly victimized by the surging Cowboys, who won their fifth in a row to improve to 8-5, 18-10. Wyoming led almost from the start and pulled ahead by as much as 77-46, running away with a 20-6 run to start the second half. The Cowboys seemed to win most of the loose-ball battles.

LeDarion Jones scored 25 to lead Wyoming. Josh Davis added 16, Chris McMillian 15.

For Utah, Hanno Mottola had 19 points, but no one else was in double figures.