Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV basketball:

Blog: Rebels lose 83-82 at CSU after leading by as much as 18

UNLV loses to Colorado State

AP / Erin Hull

Colorado State’s Gian Clavell jumps to block UNLV’s Jordan Cornish, who takes the last shot of the game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Fort Collins, Colo. The shot rimmed out, and the Rebels lost 83-82.

Updated Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 | 3:11 p.m.

UNLV Loses at Colorado State

UNLV's Rashad Vaughn yells after a play in an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado State on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. Launch slideshow »

Colorado State 83, UNLV 82

Game over

Jordan Cornish's game-ending 3-point attempt rimmed out, and after leading by as much as 18 in the first half the Rebels lost 83-82 this afternoon at Moby Arena. UNLV's record falls to 13-10 overall and 4-6 in league play.

Rashad Vaughn scored 30 points, often carrying UNLV through the second half, and Christian Wood and Pat McCaw each scored 16. None of those guys touched the ball on UNLV's final possession, though.

The inbound went to Cody Doolin, who eventually dribbled it into the lane on the right side and kicked it out to an open Cornish on the left wing. It was as open as you could hope for at the end of a game, but the fact is that none of the Rebels' best guys today got a look at the potential game winner.

It was a wild game that you could argue UNLV didn't deserve to win after blowing that lead. But once it was gone, the Rebels battled back well and took the lead at various stretches. It just wasn't enough.

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

The Rebel Room

#HeyReb

Football coach Tony Sanchez is set to announce his first recruiting class at UNLV, something he's teased out with #HeyReb tweets each time the Rebels get a commitment. Las Vegas Sun sports writers Ray Brewer and Taylor Bern get into the players he's been going after and also discuss whether or not to buy into UNLV basketball's three-game winning streak.

When the game starts today at 1 p.m. Las Vegas time on CBS Sports Network, things are going to look a little … off. Once a year Colorado State, whose colors are green and gold, wears throwback orange jerseys, and today is that day.

So no need to adjusts your sets. As long as there are two giant rams’ horns on the court, you’ve got the right game.

The Rams (19-4, 6-4) come into this afternoon’s game at Moby Arena having lost two of their past three, including an ugly offensive performance Wednesday at Wyoming. Meanwhile, the Rebels (13-9, 4-5) have won three in a row but are looking for their first victory against one of the league’s top six teams in the current standings.

UNLV coach Dave Rice is also looking for his first victory at Moby Arena, the gym best known by visiting media for its giant crowd noise meter that looks like … something. When the building fills up it can be a really good environment, though, and I’m going to be interested to see how close it is to a sellout.

Colorado State still has an outside shot at building an at-large resume for the NCAA Tournament. To preserve that, the Rams can’t lose games like today.

Of course, that’s none of UNLV’s concern. The Rebels are trying to get their winning streak to four games by notching what would be their second best victory of the season. To do it, they will probably need to be good or great in these three areas: rebounding, defensive transition and turnovers.

Colorado State is certainly going to shoot better than it did at Wyoming, so limiting the Rams’ offensive opportunities will be very important, as will making them work for those looks in half-court sets. CSU is a capable half-court team, but coach Larry Eustachy’s team looks first to get a shot in transition.

If the Rebels can get back and slow down that action, they will put themselves in a better position to rebound and look for their own opportunities to push the ball.

Bern’s prediction: Action on Colorado State has pushed the number all the way from UNLV +7.5 last night to UNLV +10 this afternoon. I’ve always felt that there’s a chance UNLV gets blown out today, but when it comes to finding value on the board I rarely would lay double digits in this league. Colorado State 77, UNLV 68

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

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