‘Signature win’ just what Rice, Rebels needed

Four years ago, UNLV’s basketball team made national news by beating then-No. 1 North Carolina in a nonconference game at Orleans Arena. More than anything, it introduced Dave Rice to the country as the former Rebels player who had been entrusted to continue the winning ways Lon Kruger had delivered as head coach.

Rice had been hired with the idea that he could take the Rebels to even greater heights come March each year.

The victory against North Carolina even secured UNLV some highly regarded transfers and recruits it might not otherwise have landed, but was accomplished with players primarily brought to Las Vegas by Kruger.

The Rebels on Tuesday night won another game that prompted their fans to rush the court in celebration, and you can make the argument this one was every bit as significant as beating the Tar Heels.

This one earned UNLV something it sorely needed — respect for the journey Rice is trying to direct with those he has brought here.

UNLV beat No. 3 Arizona 71-67 before 15,387 at the Thomas & Mack Center by playing with a level of emotion and desire not seen yet this season.

For once, Rice can say it following a win and the notion more than holds up.

UNLV beat a terrific team.

“A fantastic win for our program,” Rice said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our resolve coming off a difficult loss to Utah (on Saturday). We had a fantastic practice (Monday) and felt we were prepared. I think it speaks volumes for the progress we are making. It’s a huge deal, a great win against a team that has a chance to go to the Final Four.

“It’s a signature win, probably way more than one win.”

It was also a memorable night for him.

When he was an associate head coach at Brigham Young, Rice oversaw one of the best offenses nationally, and his primary job was to call plays for it. But it hasn’t been nearly as smooth an attack at UNLV. Not close. Not in the same area code most nights.

That’s what made Tuesday so impressive.

UNLV sophomore Chris Wood said UNLV coaches told him beforehand that Arizona couldn’t guard him, that Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski couldn’t hold him in check.

They couldn’t. Wood finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. He shot 10-of-17. He was as good as he has been with the Rebels.

This also wasn’t Arizona coach Sean Miller’s finest hour. His team never forced UNLV guards Rashad Vaughn or Patrick McCaw left (an obvious ploy that should accompany any scout of the Rebels) and it absolutely never solved Wood, who Rice isolated from the post up to the elbow.

That allowed for two things: It’s much more difficult to bring any sort of double team in that situation, and it afforded Wood the opportunity to sweep and drive against slower players.

That’s as good an example of Rice’s offense — spread the floor, determine the best matchup and expose it time and again — as you will find without some guy named Jimmer Fredette shooting from all points on the floor.

Fact: This was as impressive a job by Rice calling plays as we have seen during his time at UNLV, especially in the second half.

“It shows what kind of team we can be if we play like this every game,” Vaughn said. “We’re a good team that can compete with the best.”

Rice said afterward that he believes those who beat North Carolina in 2011 are also his guys and that they return the sentiment, and I’m sure that’s true on both ends. Most kids tend to take to whoever is coaching them at the moment.

But while his recruiting skills and those of his staff have been unquestionably stellar since, the Rebels under Rice have lacked producing anything of national note on the court in nonconference play the last few years.

Until now.

Until Arizona.

It is by far the best win by a Mountain West team this season. The nation’s 10th ranked league by Ratings Percentage Index hasn’t exactly set the world on fire and isn’t considered a conference today that deserves more than two NCAA Tournament berths.

That could change. There’s a lot of basketball left.

But the Rebels needed this — for their resume, their confidence, their chances moving forward.

Vaughn scored 21 and UNLV grabbed 46 boards to 33 for an Arizona side that posts you deeper and deeper and even deeper down low. The Rebels had 14 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points and 19 more from their bench.

Team efforts beat Arizona.

UNLV just wanted it more, is all.

Effort, execution, coaching.

It all played a part for the Rebels.

“We have a long ways to go and a lot to learn,” Rice said. “But we have stayed together.”

You can’t win a game like this any other way.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on “Gridlock,” ESPN 1100 and 100.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.