Before week-long layoff, UNLV travels to face Wyoming

By Ryan Greene

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 | 2:15 a.m.

Following Saturday's 63-62 home victory over New Mexico, which included one of the wackiest two-minute stretches to close a game you might ever see, the UNLV players sat back in the locker room and did something they hadn't done in a couple of hours.

"We had a little time to just relax and get a deep breath out," sophomore guard Anthony Marshall said. "We were pretty emotionally spent after that."

The game could have gone either way, but the Rebels escaped, dropped the Lobos to an unsightly 1-4 in Mountain West play and got themselves back even at 3-3, breathing added life into their season and NCAA tournament hopes.

Now it's time to move ahead.

Before getting a week off, UNLV (15-5 overall, 3-3 MWC) makes the trip to face Wyoming (8-11, 1-4) on Tuesday night.

"We know there's not a lot of room for error," Marshall added. "We have to go into each game thinking it's our last, because we can't have any letdowns. It can put us in a bad position."

As far as Marshall's position on the Rebels' roster, it appears that he'll be remaining in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future.

Though he didn't post big numbers, senior Tre'Von Willis, after missing two games, came up with several key plays on Saturday against the Lobos in 25 minutes off of the bench.

Willis opened up a bit after the game when it came to his right knee injury and the limitations it has placed on him, citing his lack of explosiveness or the ability to cut on a dime.

But it's clear that the Rebels do need him on the floor for his intangibles, including his leadership and toughness, which were both on display against New Mexico.

"We all know Tre is a strong, tough competitor," Marshall said. "Having him on the court, he brings that toughness and edge. So when you see him out there battling hard, it carries over to everyone else."

Added Kruger: "He'll go out there and do what he can do. He'll get better with time. I thought his effort Saturday was really pretty gritty. He stuck in there, battled it, wasn't able to do all he wanted to do. After Tuesday, there's a little time in there, which is critical to all of our guys."

The only change from Saturday in terms of the rotation will come at center, which has been by far the team's most fluid spot this season.

Back in the starting five after a six-game hiatus behind junior Brice Massamba is Quintrell Thomas, who had one of his best performances in weeks on Saturday. It was the culmination of a strong stretch both in games and practices for the 6-foot-8 sophomore Kansas transfer.

Against the Lobos, he scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds and, maybe most important, only picked up two fouls in 16 minutes.

It's a nice mini-peak for Thomas, who just a week ago appeared frustrated with a shrinking role behind both Massamba and redshirt freshman Carlos Lopez.

"He's been working awfully hard, before practice, after practice the last few days, and I think his confidence has really gotten better," Kruger said. "I think he's got a little bit better feel for what's a foul and what isn't and he's trying to avoid that early first one, especially."

Just as UNLV needs Thomas to consistently play the way he has of late, the team as a whole is backed into a corner in terms of needing to steadily perform.

No. 4 San Diego State and No. 9 BYU, both 5-0 in league play, are starting to run away towards the league's regular season crown.

New Mexico senior guard Dairese Gary after Saturday's loss in Las Vegas essentially conceded the Lobos' chances at a third consecutive league title, but the Rebels remain optimistic that they have a chance.

"I feel like we're still in it," Marshall said. "The ultimate goal is to get to March and be playing then, but there's a lot of the season left, we have to play (SDSU and BYU) again, they have to play each other twice, we still have our heads up looking forward."