UNLV Pummels Colorado State
UNLV guard Tre'Von Willis drives to the basket in Saturday's 70-39 victory over the Rams.
Photo by Addison Cilli, Mile High Hoops
Nine Players Score In Rebels' Victory
LAS VEGAS—Colorado State couldn’t keep up with the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV Saturday in Las Vegas. The Rebels used a balanced scoring attack in a 70-39 drubbing of the Rams.
The game was never in doubt, as UNLV jumped out to an 20-3 lead and led 40-16 at halftime. Rebels’ junior guard Kendall Wallace drilled a couple three-pointers in the first half, and standout freshman Anthony Marshall scored on a variety of impressive drives to the hoop. He had nine points in the first half, and finished with 12 points.
UNLV got the ball inside the soft spot (middle) of CSU’s zone defense, which created a lot of good looks inside and outside for the Rebels. When CSU played man-to-man, UNLV drove right past them. “When we’re man we couldn’t guard the ball,” CSU coach Tim Miles said. “When we went zone, they got the ball to the high post, kicked it out for a standing three, and they made those too.”
The Rebels righted the ship after losing three straight Mountain West Conference games, and losing its national ranking. They improved to 8-5 in conference play, and 20-7 overall.
UNLV shot a blistering 58 percent from the field in the first half and, 48 percent overall. The Rams struggled all night, connecting on only 4-for-25 shots in the first half and shot just 22 percent for the game.
CSU drops to 6-6 in conference and 15-11 overall.
UNLV’s depth proved too much for the Rams, as nine players scored in the game. The Rebels came at the Rams in waves on Saturday, which has been the story for many other opponents—eleven Rebels average 10 minutes or more.
Chace Stanback and Marshall led the Rebels with 12 points apiece. Andy Ogide led the Rams with a workman like eight points and 12 rebounds.
The Rams have four games remaining: New Mexico, Texas Christian, San Diego State and Utah—a tough quartet of games to close out the season. But the Rams are still focused on playing in the postseason somewhere, whether that is in the National Invitational Tournament or the third annual College Basketball Invitational. It would likely take a conference tournament championship to secure a bid to the NCAA national tournament.
“We’ll definitely learn from this game,” Ogide said. “We have a chance to make the postseason too, and we need to go out there and be aggressive every single game these next four. I think we’re going to do that.”
Contact the writer at prossi@milehighhoops.com