Rebels seal BYU sweep 
February 23, 2009 by Sage Sammons
Sellout crowd sparks Rebels to one-point win over the BYU Cougars
Sellout crowd sparks Rebels to one-point win over the BYU Cougars. Photo by: Devin Loretz
It was the largest home crowd since UNLV played Georgetown in 1993. At times, it seemed the roof was going to blow off the Thomas & Mack. At others, it was quieter than a BYU dinner table.
The Rebels beat the visiting Cougars, 75-74, in front of a sellout crowd of 18,523, who witnessed the Rebels survive a last second comeback.
The win gave the Rebels (20-7, 8-5 Mountain West) their first regular season sweep of the Cougars (20-6, 8-4) since the formation of the Mountain West Conference. UNLV beat BYU in Provo, Utah 76-70 on Jan. 21. The win also gave the Rebels 20 wins on the season for the third consecutive year.
The Cougars rallied late after 3-pointers by Lee Cummard and Jonathan Tavernari sailed through the net in the game’s final 10 seconds.
The Cougars put the Rebels on the line to try and pull the comeback. During that time, the Rebels shot 5-of-9 from the charity stripe, just enough to hold onto the win.
René Rougeau blocks Jimmer Fredette’s layup during Saturday’s game against BYU. Rougeau led the Rebels with three blocks. Photo by: Devin Loretz
“[Free throws] are the difference in a one-point win,” UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said. “Tonight it felt like we were getting a little better rhythm at the line. I thought Wink [Adams] felt a little more comfortable even though he missed a few. Oscar [Bellfield] has been shooting well. Everyone else shot well. I think we are ready to turn the corner at the line.”
The Rebels finished 17-of-25 from the free throw line.
Adams, who scored a game high 22 points, led the Rebels. Mo Rutledge (13), Rene Rougeau (12) and Tre’Von Willis (10) all scored in double figures. Willis grabbed a team high eight rebounds.
Rutledge led in relief scoring as the Rebels scored 21 points off the bench, from just two players. Kendall Wallace scored eight, all of which came in a span of 51 seconds, after he hit back-to-back-to-back shots, including two 3-pointers.
“Mo was great Kendall was great, both came in there and did a really good job,” Kruger said.
Cummard led the Cougars with 20 points and Tavernari chipped in with a double-double, 19 points and 11 boards. Jimmer Fredette scored 13 points and Chris Miles 10, in the losing effort.
Around the MWC on Saturday, New Mexico crushed second place San Diego State in Albuquerque, 75-49. New Mexico’s win and losses by BYU and SDSU create a three-team tie for second place (8-4) in the conference. UNLV a half game behind with an 8-5 conference record.
Kruger emphasized the urgency that the team has to treat each game with.
“Every game is important,” Kruger said. “Now we have to regroup because we only have three [games] left.”
The Rebels are not finished with the state of Utah. UNLV will travel to Salt Lake City on Wednesday to face off against the conference leading Runnin’ Utes. A victory would give UNLV a sweep of the Beehive state’s MWC teams. The game will be aired on the Mtn. at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
[...] REBELS SEAL BYU SWEEP (FEB. 23, [...]