Johnson helps save the season for UNLV

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Regaining their self-respect might have been good enough for the Rebels on Monday night.

But they didn't stop there. They went on to earn the respect of the rest of the Mountain West Conference, and probably saved their season as well.

With their thrilling 80-78 victory over first-place Wyoming on Dalron Johnson's last-second 3-pointer, the Rebels proved they have some heart and savvy after all, even without an NCAA berth to shoot for.

Those issues were up for debate after Saturday's 25-point blowout at Colorado State, in which UNLV failed to put up a fight. From coach Max Good to the greenest walk-on, it was time for the Rebels to make a stand, though there were doubters even among their ranks heading into Monday's ESPN game at the Arena-Auditorium.

Not to worry. Behind 20 points from Johnson, who returned from a two-game injury layoff, 19 by an energized Kaspars Kambala and 13 by vastly improved Sylvester Dotson, the Rebels more than made up for Saturday's pratfall, even if they had to come back after blowing a 70-60 lead.

Though the Rebels' inconsistency is maddening, Monday's win showed that they have not given up. It was their second road victory all season (not including Division II Chaminade) and their most joyous postgame since they won the MWC tournament last March.

A team in desperate need of a group hug finally got one.

"About time you made a big shot for us," Kambala yelled to Johnson with a wink and a smile.

Johnson had missed last-second 3-pointers against BYU last season and Louisville this season. But this one was straight and true and right on time.

"I knew I was running out of time and I had to shoot it," Johnson said. "I was pretty tired, but after the shot went in, all the adrenaline hit me at once. I could hardly breathe."

Good said, "I feel bad that it came down to that play, because I thought we controlled the game. I don't want it to look like we hit a fluke 3-pointer at the buzzer to win. But we'll take it."

The victory also showed the rest of the conference that Wyoming can be beaten, even at home. UNLV ended the Cowboys' 15-game home winning streak, including eight this season. Wyoming remains in the MWC lead at 6-2 (15-5 overall), but BYU is a half-game behind at 5-2. UNLV is 4-3, 13-9.

Suddenly, there is hope for the rest of the league, and hope that the Rebels' season might hold additional thrills.

"We knew that if we stayed together, we had enough talent to play with anyone in the league," Trevor Diggs said. "This is the kind of win that shows us what we're capable of."

The victory was all about overcoming.

The 3-pointer swished, nullifying Marcus Bailey's short jumper that had given Wyoming the lead seconds earlier and shocking the Cowboys' raucous crowd into silence.