Rebels rebound against Fresno State

Photo by: Devin Loretz

In Fresno, Calif., Darris Santee’s 21 points provided the spark that got the Rebels back on the winning path. UNLV (6-2) defeated Fresno State (2-4), 82-76, after dropping two straight games at the Thomas & Mack.

The Bulldogs played neck-in-neck with the Rebels throughout the entire contest never allowing UNLV to get a double-digit lead.

The Bulldogs led by one point with just over a minute remaining in the first half after Fresno’s Paul George scored on an assist from Brandon Webster. A few seconds later UNLV center Brice Massamba took the ball in the low post and scored on a layup to give the Rebels the lead, 32-31, going into the locker room.

Santee scored 14 of his points in the first half to lead the Rebels. The next closest scorers were Willis and Wink Adams with four first-half points.

The second half opened with eight lead changes but neither team asserted dominance.

The momentum finally shifted when René Rougeau scored on a fastbreak layup with six minutes remaining. The Rebels never relinquished that lead.

The game was a homecoming for sophomore guard Tre’Von Willis who grew up in Fresno. Willis recorded 18 points, four assists and two steals and was the team’s second leading scorer.

Senior guard Adams continued to struggle from the field. He shot 5-for-15 from the field but was crucial for the Rebels in the game. Adams made 7-of-9 free throws, many of which came in the final minutes, to keep the team’s slim lead. Adams finished with 17 points.

Overall the team was more consistent, making 48.5 percent (32-of-66) of shots from the field but failing to find the touch from 3-point territory where they made 4-of-17.

The game against FSU was the first of a two game road tour that will finish in Reno against the Wolf Pack on Saturday. The Rebels have won the last two games against UNR.