Rebels use diving lessons to bounce back

      There had to be some diving Saturday night.
      Thursday, there was no diving and UNLV's basketball team lost to Colorado State, 76-68. Rebels coach Bill Bayno promised that his team would dive for loose balls in Saturday's game with Wyoming.
      To make sure, Bayno implemented a drill in Friday's practice he has seldom used this season. Before the session was finished, every Rebel player had to dive for a loose ball and take a charge.
      Saturday, the floor at the Thomas & Mack Center was strewn with UNLV players as the Rebels whipped the Cowboys, 80-47.
      "We knew we had to come out and play hard, react and get after it on defense," said forward Tyrone Nesby, who scored 15 points, 13 in the second half. "If we play like that the whole time, every game, we'll be all right."
      UNLV used a zone defense in the second half to cut off Wyoming's primary scoring threats, forwards Jeron Roberts and HL Coleman. With Roberts and Coleman nullified, the Cowboys quit scoring and the Rebels turned a 42-40 lead into the 80-47 final with a stirring 38-7 run to close out the game.
      "Roberts was great in the first half (scoring 15 points) and we had to do something to slow him down," Bayno said. "Him and Coleman were the guys who were going to hurt us, so we sagged on them and tried to make other guys hit shots."
      The Rebels allowed just 16 points in the second half. Wyoming shot 20 percent (5 of 25) from the floor and Coleman was held scoreless after halftime until hitting a meaningless 3-pointer with 52.8 seconds to play. He finished with nine points.
      "With us it starts with defense," said Rebel forward Tony Lane. "We get a lot of chances on offense through hard work on defense."
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