Rebels need OT to knock off Aztecs

Steve Addy

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001 | 11:01 a.m.

Rarely has UNLV savored a victory over San Diego State so genuinely, but so briefly.

The Rebels are accustomed to having their way with the Aztecs, but their joy did not last long Saturday night after battling for an 82-72 overtime victory before about 7,500 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Soon after closing the game with a 10-0 run to climb to 12-8 overall, 3-2 in the Mountain West, the Rebels were notified of the fatal plane crash involving the Oklahoma State basketball team. UNLV played OSU this season, losing 77-69 in overtime on Dec. 2 at Oklahoma City.

Former UNLV assistant coach Glynn Cyprien wasn't among 10 people killed in the crash as the Cyclones were returning to Stillwater after losing 81-71 at Colorado. Two players were killed, as were five team support members and two pilots.

After the UNLV game, Cyprien phoned UNLV assistant coach Bill Wuczynski to notify the Rebels he was all right.

"Cyp was very lucky," Rebels center Sylvester Dotson said. "It's awful that that happened."

"I am praying for all of them," Trevor Diggs said. "We're glad Cyp is OK, but it's terrible, just terrible."

UNLV coach Max Good said he immediately feared for Cyprien and Cyclones forward Andre Williams, who played for Good at Maine Central Institute. Williams was also OK.

"Every once in a while, we get a reminder that this is just a basketball game," Good said.

The Rebels had to work overtime to beat the Aztecs (11-7, 1-4) for the 10th straight time. UNLV wasted a 70-65 lead in the last 22 seconds of regulation, but dominated the extra five minutes.

Diggs, who played all 45 minutes, turned the game in the Rebels' favor in OT. He stole an inbounds pass for a layup to make it 78-72 only seconds after a Jermaine Lewis 3-pointer. Diggs then made a midcourt steal for a Dotson dunk and also fed Kaspars Kambala for a game-ending layup.

The teams engaged in a shoving match with 13:59 to go in regulation. It began when Aztecs guard Deandre Moore shoved a ball in Diggs' face. Diggs went after Moore, and players on both teams rushed in. Each team was assessed two technical fouls, but there were no ejections.

Kambala and Lewis scored 22 apiece to lead UNLV and Diggs had 16 with eight assists. Dotson was superb off the bench with 10 points and 12 rebounds, grabbing four straight boards in OT.

The Rebels won without sophomore forward Dalron Johnson, who suffered a sprained right ankle on Thursday in a loss at Georgetown. Chris Richardson started in his place.

Al Faux topped San Diego State with 19 points, making the tying 3-pointer with six seconds left in regulation. Randy Holcomb supplied 17 points and Moore 14 before fouling out.