Rebels survive San Diego in season opener 
November 17, 2008 by Jennifer Miller
Free throws put Rebels ahead in final minutes
Wink Adams scored 19 points for the Rebels in their 65-60 win over San Diego Saturday at the Thomas & Mack. Photo by: Kyle Giunta
Free throws win games.
And the Rebels won the late free throw battle with San Diego to earn their season opening victory, 65-60, Saturday at the Thomas & Mack.
Both teams went without a field goal in the last five minutes. But UNLV outscored the Toreros from the charity stripe 9-to-6. Wink Adams hit four of his attempts and René Rougeau also connected to help lift the Rebels.
Three UNLV players scored in double digits as Adams led the offensive attack with 19 points. Freshman Oscar Bellfield (13) and senior Joe Darger (10) also finished in double digits.
San Diego had a game plan – stop Adams. The Toreros had someone closely guarding him the entire game.
“Teams realize that [Adams] is one of our go-to guys and he knows he will have a target on his back all year,” head coach Lon Kruger said.
Oscar Bellfied, a 6-foot-2 guard, dunked the ball late in the second half to secure the win. Bellfield was named Player of the Game. Photo by: Devin Loretz
Shooting woes carried over from the exhibition game as the Rebels continued to shoot poorly against San Diego. In the second half they shot a dismal 27 percent from the field. Including 8-of-29 from 3-point range.
UNLV lost the lead for the first time in the second half at the 12 minute mark when San Diego player Roberto Mafra scored a lay-up to give the Toreros the lead, 42-43.
Darger and Adams responded with jumpers from beyond the arc, and Bellfield excited the 13,000 fans with a slam dunk. The gym erupted and the effort put the Rebels back up 55-49, capping a much-needed run that would help the Rebels seal the game.
The Toreros made another small run as the Rebels clung to a 1-point lead with 1:12 remaining. Rougeau came alive and made a defensive stop, and was fouled on the ensuing play.
He calmly made his two free throws to give the Rebels a nice pad for the final minute.
Bellfield was named Player of the Game with a team high six assists and three steals.
Although Kruger was pleased with the win, he acknowledged that his team has room for improvement.
“We have to do so many things better. We haven’t played the way we hope to. With a new point guard and new post it takes awhile to develop.”
The Rebels take on Texas-Pan American on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack.
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