LAS VEGAS?Coming off a 120-117 double-overtime victory over New Mexico the night before, the UNLV Rebels had barely enough left in the tank to run past the Utes in the semifinal round of the Mountain West Tournament.
Utah rallied from an early 17 point deficit to claim a five point lead with under seven minutes in the game, but the Rebels fed off a home crowd of 14,837 fans?the most for an MWC Tournament game?to reclaim the lead and the 76-70 win.
UNLV advanced to the tournament final, but lost at the Thomas & Mack Center to No. 5 seed San Diego State 78 75.
The loss marked the third straight year Utah failed to advance to the MWC Tournament final.
In the March 8 matchup between the Utes and Rebels, UNLV jumped on the Utes from the opening tip with an in-your face defense and up-tempo game.
U point guard Travis Spivey burnt UNLV’s Marcus Banks baseline for a layup, but UNLV led 3-2. That would be the closest Utah would get for the next 25 minutes.
The Rebels combined an aggressive defense with hot shooting.
“I was concerned last night was going to take a lot out of us,” said UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour.
Apparently, it didn’t. UNLV hit eight of its first 11 shots, including three treys.
After consecutive 3s by UNLV’s Dalron Johnson and Chris Richardson, Banks hit a 3 in transition. UNLV led 12-2 four minutes into the game.
Meanwhile, Utah couldn’t hit a shot, as Nick Jacobson, Phil Cullen and Jeff Johnsen all missed from beyond the arc.
The lead grew to 20-3 before Britton Johnsen hit a 3-ball from the top of the key.
The elder Johnsen hit a cutting Spivey for an easy deuce, but no one stepped out on a wide open Richardson 3. UNLV led 23-8 halfway through the half, and 27-11 before the Utes made their move.
Utah went on an 11-0 run, but Banks ended a five-minute drought with a middle-of-the lane jumper over Spivey.
The Rebels led 29-25 at half.
Utah kept hacking at the lead. Britton Johnsen’s pass to Spivey under the hoop for a layup made it 36-35 Vegas. Utah finally gained the lead for the first time of the game at 40-39, but would lose it.
Martin Osimani took an apparent charge, but it was ruled a blocking foul, much to Majerus’s dejection.
Majerus slammed his hand on the corner of the scorer’s table, and stomped down to the end of the Utah bench, visibly infuriated, shouting and screaming.
The Majerus tirade led to a technical foul. “I’m not saying anything about the officials,” Majerus said after the game.
UNLV regained the lead, but Trace Caton’s 3 put Utah ahead 56-51 with 6:51 to go.
Jevon Banks gave UNLV the lead once again at 58-57 after two free throws, the start of its late-second-half surge.
“We came out with a lot of energy in the first half, but it wore on us,” Banks said. “But we caught a second wind.”
UNLV went on a 17-5 run, and led 68-61 with 2:19 left.
Jeff Johnsen’s four-point play pulled the Utes to within three with 1:20 to go.
On the ensuing UNLV possession, Utah collapsed a Dalron Johnson/Marcus Banks pick and roll (Johnson went for 21 points and 11 rebounds in the game, and Banks had 12 points and 6 assists). The sag left Vince Booker open. Booker sank a 3 from Banks.
Lou Kelly hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds, and UNLV won.
“Our players played their hearts out. We need to do a better job of recruiting, we need to do what losers do,” the coach said.
Jacobson led Utah with 16 points, and Cullen contributed 14.
Despite the loss, Utah received a berth into the NCAA Tournament. Utah plays Indiana in the first round.