Blog: Rebels implode and Vaughn injured in 22-point loss at Arizona State

By Taylor Bern

Published Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 | 4 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 | 6:58 p.m.

Arizona State 77, UNLV 55

Game over

After jumping out to a 21-6 lead, UNLV went into halftime at Arizona State tied and never showed any signs of life in the second half of a 77-55 loss.

The Rebels' defense gave up 11 3-pointers and weren't much better inside the arc. The Aztecs shot around 50 percent while the Rebels hit just 25 percent in the second half and less than 38 percent for the game.

Making things worse, Rashad Vaughn went to the locker room in the second half with a back injury and never returned to the bench. It looked like back spasms but that's just my guess from press row.

Vaughn and Jordan Cornish each scored 10 points while four Arizona State players scored in double figures. The Sun Devils also dominated the rebounding battle 46-32.

Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from the loss.

The Rebels are away from home for their first true road game of the season and the outside focus is everywhere except the court thanks to the latest expected push into UNLV’s revolving door.

On Tuesday night I learned that sophomore guard Kendall Smith wouldn’t play for the fourth straight game and earlier today the Review-Journal’s Matt Youmans reported Smith didn’t make the trip with the team. According to a source Smith is likely going to transfer, though a final decision has not yet been made.

If he leaves, Smith would be the 10th player to transfer out of the program in coach Dave Rice’s three-plus seasons and the 13th player to leave with eligibility remaining. Eight of those transfers are currently with other programs, including Savon Goodman, who will be on Arizona State’s bench tonight and becomes eligible in a couple weeks. Goodman’s departure was tied directly to an alleged burglary in the offseason, but the rest of the players left (or some were possibly asked to leave) for reasons related to playing time and their role within the program.

Smith was the Rebels’ starting point guard last season before losing that gig for good by January. He started 13 games, averaging 3.8 points, 1.5 assists and 1.3 turnovers in 14.4 minutes per game over 31 total appearances.

This year Smith started the season as the backup point guard before quickly falling down the rotation behind freshman Pat McCaw. Smith has missed the past three games with an ankle injury that we all knew wasn’t the full story. Next year the Rebels’ options at point guard figure to be McCaw, sophomore Daquan Cook, senior Jerome Seagears and signee Jalen Poyser.

So while all of this is going on, the Rebels (4-1) must keep their attention on a game in which they’re now 6.5-point underdogs. UNLV and Arizona State tip off at 5 p.m. Las Vegas time at Wells Fargo Arena. The game will air on the Pac-12 Network.

Arizona State (4-2) isn’t a great team as coach Herb Sendek is trying to replace the majority of his production from the past two seasons, but the Sun Devils are capable 3-point shooters and last year they only lost once at home.

It was already a significant challenge before the added distraction. Maybe not having Smith around could actually help, although UNLV’s bench is so short that they need any and all available bodies.

The Rebels are down to nine available scholarship players, including redshirt freshman Dantley Walker, who has yet to play a meaningful minute. It’s far from an ideal situation and coming away with a win is likely going to take the Rebels’ best effort to date.

Bern’s prediction: It will be interesting to see what UNLV does defensively. Rice has emphasized that ASU always has four perimeter shooters on the floor so the Rebels can’t afford to lose track of their man. Arizona State 62, UNLV 55

Season: 1-4 ATS, 2-3 O/U

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.