Blog: Rebels drop another close game, losing 71-69 at home vs. New Mexico

By Taylor Bern

Published Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 | 7 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 | 10:19 p.m.

New Mexico 71, UNLV 69

Game over

Jordan Goodman scored the go-ahead points on an offensive rebound and putback with 9.1 seconds left and UNLV never got a shot off on its final possession as the Rebels fall to 1-5 in Mountain West play with a 71-69 loss to New Mexico here tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Hugh Greenwood hit 6-of-9 on 3-pointers after shooting 29 percent on the season, finishing with 22 points, and he also had eight rebounds. Every time the Lobos needed a play Greenwood was there for them, and while they countered several of the plays the Rebels didn't have enough to pull out another close game.

Chris Wood had 20 points and nine rebounds, Rashad Vaughn and Pat McCaw each scored 13 but it was Jelan Kendrick who kept the ball on the Rebels' final possession. He tried to drive into the lane and lost control of the ball before ever getting off a shot and the buzzer sounded, ending another disappointing night for UNLV.

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

This isn’t going to feel like most of the Rebels-Lobos matchups from the past three seasons. One team, UNLV (10-8, 1-4), has lost five of its last six and is just looking to get its head above water while the other, New Mexico (12-6, 4-2), is off to a good start in league play that began right after a baffling loss at Grand Canyon.

Basically, neither team is what they want to be, although the key difference is that the Lobos’ record is still OK as it has them tied for second place in the Mountain West. Meanwhile, the Rebels’ once realistic hopes of winning a regular-season conference title are out the window, and now they’re just trying to win anything.

The game tips off at 8 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center and will air on CBS Sports Network.

UNLV has two home games this week, and over the next two weeks the Rebels will be favored in every game, including a road trip to Reno. While finishing in first is essentially off the table, the Rebels could easily find themselves above .500 by the end of January.

That’s not the kind of goal anyone around the program was looking for, but that’s the situation. Getting there is going to be about showing up from the start and handling their business, because when dialed in the Rebels should be able to win the next four — New Mexico, Utah State, at UNR, Air Force.

New Mexico’s defense has some good numbers, but it will struggle if it doesn’t keep the game at a slower pace. Also, the Lobos are awful shooting beyond the arc — 29.5 percent — which means they will likely have to rely more on getting past UNLV’s interior shot-blockers.

It’s possible New Mexico will catch a break there as freshman starter Goodluck Okonoboh, who has 50 blocks this season, is doubtful with a foot injury he suffered at San Diego State. Okonoboh didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday. If he can't go, fellow freshman Dwayne Morgan would get the start.

The Rebels can’t fix everything that’s gone wrong in one game, but if they don’t start chipping away now there won’t be much left to strive towards. Not that there ever was, but now there’s really no excuse for UNLV looking past any opponent. They need every possible win, and that needs to start tonight.

Bern’s prediction: Okonoboh’s absence is certainly a concern but I’ve felt since Saturday that UNLV would come out and play well tonight in a victory, so I’ll stick with that. UNLV 72, New Mexico 64

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