UNLV Men's Basketball

Instant Analysis: The better team won the Mountain West tournament, and that team wasn't UNLV

Sam Morris

UNLV guard Anthony Marshall drives to the basket against New Mexico during their Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Instant Analysis: The better team won the Mountain West tournament, and that team wasn't UNLV: ray brewer:; Sat, Mar 16, 2013 (5:25 p.m.); By Ray Brewer; The first instinct is to assign blame. If they didn’t make just 33 percent of their shots, or if a few of the 22 3-pointers they missed would have fallen, then the UNLV basketball team might not have lost 63-56 to New Mexico on Saturday in the Mountain West tournament championship game.

New Mexico guard Tony Snell poses for photos with teammates after the Lobos defeated 63-56 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Blog: Snell carries New Mexico past UNLV in Mountain West tournament final: Rebels basketball:; Saturday, March 16, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Tony Snell scored 13 of New Mexico's final 17 points and Kendall Williams punctuated the Lobos' 63-56 victory against UNLV with a 360 dunk that clinched the Mountain West tournament title, giving New Mexico both crowns this season.

UNLV forward Mike Moser hugs Katin Reinhardt after he came out at the end of their Mountain West Conference Tournament game against Colorado State Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won 75-65 and will face New Mexico in the championship game on Saturday.

Rebels roll into Mountain West title game behind team effort against CSU: UNLV basketball: Freshmen Katin Reinhardt (21 points) and Anthony Bennett (19 points) headline tough 10-point victory that sets up matchup vs. New Mexico; Saturday, March 16, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Tough. Together. Those are the words UNLV coach Dave Rice said he wrote on the board in the team’s locker room prior to and at halftime of the Mountain West tournament semifinal between the Rebels and Colorado State.

UNLV guard Katin Reinhardt directs his teammates during their Mountain West Conference Tournament game against Colorado State Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won 75-65 and will face New Mexico in the championship game on Saturday.

Instant Analysis: Katin Reinhardt might have found his shooting stroke in leading UNLV past Colorado State: ray brewer:; Friday, March 15, 2013; By Ray Brewer; Just think if Katin Reinhardt played like he did in the first half Friday all season. Two days ago, the freshman shooting guard nearly put up a bagel in the Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinals, finishing 1 for 10 shooting in a game that would have destroyed the confidence of most young players. Just not this young player. Friday night, he had arguably his best game for UNLV.

UNLV guard Anthony Marshall, left, and forward Khem Birch defend Colorado State forward Colton Iverson during their Mountain West Conference Tournament game Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Blog: Rebels' depth key in 10-point victory against Colorado State: UNLV basketball:; Friday, March 15, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Anthony Bennett scored 19 points on eight shots while Katin Reinhardt led UNLV with 21 points in a 10-point victory against Colorado State that sends the Rebels to tomorrow afternoon's Mountain West tournament final against New Mexico. The game is at 3 p.m. on CBS.

UNLV head coach Dave Rice points to one of his players during a timeout in their Mountain West Conference Tournament game against Air Force on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at the Thomas & Mack. UNLV won 72-56.

Rebels preparing for 'electric' semifinals Friday night at the Mack: In the nightcap, UNLV plays Colorado State, which will likely have to play without all-conference point guard Dorian Green; Thursday, March 14, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Dave Rice, UNLV basketball coach and amateur marketing director, knows how to sell an event. His team’s victory about a half an hour old and the Rebels’ opponent still unknown, Rice sat behind a microphone in the Cox practice gym and drew up the storyboard like he was in a pitch meeting.

UNLV forward Anthony Bennett dunks on Air Force during their Mountain West Conference Tournament game Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack. UNLV won 72-56 and will face the winner of the Fresno State vs. Colorado State on Friday.

Rebels wallop injured Falcons to advance to MWC semifinals: UNLV basketball: Air Force's Michael Lyons went down early and Anthony Bennett took full advantage, setting up a showdown with Colorado State; Wednesday, March 13, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Injuries are just part of the game, though rarely do they effectively end the contest less than two minutes in as Michael Lyons’ sprained right knee did in UNLV’s 72-56 quarterfinal victory against Air Force.

UNLV's Mike Moser yells after teammate Bryce Dejan-Jones drew an Air Force foul during their Mountain West Conference Tournament game Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack.

Instant Analysis: Could the Rebels have their swagger back after 16-point league tournament win against Air Force?: Wednesday, March 13, 2013; By Ray Brewer; Moments before the start of the UNLV basketball team’s Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinal game Wednesday against Air Force, one of my media colleagues asked for a prediction. With a straight face, I told him the Rebels would win by double digits. Not just against Air Force, but in the Rebels’ other tournament games, too.

Blog: Bennett scores 23 as Rebels advance past injured Air Force: Mountain West Tournament:; Wednesday, March 13, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Anthony Bennett scored 23 points, Bryce Dejean-Jones chipped in 12 and UNLV ran away with an easy quarterfinal victory against Air Force with a 72-56 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels will play Friday night at 8:30 p.m. against the winner of Colorado State vs. Fresno State.

UNLV forward Mike Moser yells at Katin Reinhardt after a defensive miscommunication during their game against Fresno State Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State upset UNLV 61-52.

UNLV's big men will try to beef up production as Rebels begin tournament play: Rebels basketball:; Wednesday, March 13, 2013; By Taylor Bern; The front court likely will determine just how far UNLV will go in the Mountain West tournament and the NCAAs, as well. That group has the ability to carry, or bury, the team in one-and-done situations.

UNLV forward Anthony Bennett dunks on San Diego State during their game Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. UNLV won the game 72-70 to sweep the regular season series.

Bennett gets first team; other Rebels honored by the Mountain West: UNLV basketball: Anthony Marshall, Khem Birch and Bennett all earn distinctions. New Mexico took the top awards; Monday, March 11, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Despite struggling through a shoulder injury down the stretch, UNLV's Anthony Bennett ends his freshman regular season with multiple Mountain West honors. And he’s got some Rebel company.

Fresno State center Robert Upshaw dunks on UNLV during their game Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State upset UNLV 61-52.

Rebels open as 3-to-2 favorite to win MWC tourney: UNLV Quick Hit:; Monday, March 11, 2013; By Case Keefer; For the fourth straight year, UNLV finds itself seeded at No. 3 for the Mountain West Conference tournament. For the second straight year, oddsmakers favor the Rebels to win the tournament anyway.

UNLV guard Anthony Marshall reacts after making a basket and drawing a fifth foul on Boise State's Derrick Marks during their game Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 68-64.

UNLV Extras: Writer reveals his All-Mountain West selections: Analysis: League champ New Mexico sweeps top player and coach awards while the Rebels have three players honored; Monday, March 11, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Saturday’s defeat to 14-point underdog Fresno State is believed to be the Rebels' biggest straight-up loss as a favorite since they lost to Pepperdine at home in 2005 as close to 18-point favorites.

UNLV and Fresno State stand for the national anthem before their game Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State upset UNLV 61-52.

Mississippi juco guard becomes fifth member of UNLV's incoming class: Rebels basketball: DeVille Smith, who started his career at Mississippi State, will come in as a junior and compete at point guard; Sunday, March 10, 2013; By Taylor Bern; DeVille Smith said at halftime of Saturday’s UNLV game that the Rebels were a clear favorite for him. Apparently the rest of the 61-52 loss to Fresno State didn’t do anything to change his mind.

UNLV fans hold up giant cutouts of senior players Anthony Marshall, Justin Hawkins and Quintrell Thomas before their game against Fresno State on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Rebels to face Air Force on Wednesday in Mountain West tournament: UNLV basketball: Colorado State seized the 2 seed UNLV could have had while Boise State and San Diego State prepare for a rematch in 4-5 game; Saturday, March 9, 2013; By Taylor Bern; Down to its last day the Mountain West regular season was full of surprises. From Air Force’s late-game heroics against New Mexico to UNLV’s late-game absence against Fresno State, the league that’s been full of entertainment the whole season delivered once more.