Thursday, January 26, 2012

UNLV Survives Boise State 77-72 in Overtime

Mike Moser had 18 points and 21 rebounds as #12 UNLV held off a determined Boise State team for a 77-72 win in overtime last night in Taco Bell Arena. 

Chase Stanback added 15 points and Oscar Bellfield had 13 for the Runnin' Rebels who couldn't shake the Broncos in the second half.  Coach Leon Rice's team battled back to tie the game and send it into overtime.  but UNLV took care of business in the extra period as good teams do.  Bellfield netted a three-pointer that put Vegas up 70-65 with 2:03 left and Moser sank two free throws in the final minute to seal the win, UNLV's 19th on the season against just three defeats.

Boise State, meanwhile, is still seeking its first Mountain West Conference win, despite the fact that they can play well enough to take UNLV to overtime.  They have the start of the game to thank, as UNLV ran out to a 12-0 lad while Boise State missed their first seven shots.  Derrick Marks scored a career-high 21 to lead the Broncos and Thomas Bropleh came off the bench to score 17 points and added 13 rebounds.

Boise State had a brief lead 33-31 but Moser hit three pointers, Kendall Wallace buried a trey and Bellfield's layup on a fast break put the Runnin' Rebels up 48-39 with 12:51 left.  Tre Nichols then scored nine points in the next five minutes as the Broncos went back on top 56-55.  Another three from Bellfield with 4:39 remaining gave UNLV the lead 63-59 and Brice Massamba was able to hit one of two free throws on the next possession to build a 64-59 lead.

Once again, the Broncos battled back.  Anthony Drmic hit a three pointer and Marks hit two free throws to tie the game at 64 with 59 seconds left.  Both teams had shots in the final minute but couldn't break the tie.

Despite the poor start, Boise State proved that playing good defense can keep you in a game, even if it is against the nation's 12th-best team.  A baseline drive that Marks finished with a punctuating dunk led his team back, and his jumper with 43 seconds left gave Boise State its first lead of the game 27-26.  Just Hawkins gave UNLV the lead at halftime 29-27 on a three-pointer with eight seconds left.

Boise State hosts Wyoming Saturday night.  It will be interesting to see if Boise State plays as well as they did last night.  If they do, they'll get a double digit win. 

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