UNLV voted against playing a full Mountain West basketball schedule, according to a league source. The conference presidents still need to vote on the measure.
UNLV Basketball
No major decisions have been announced regarding what kinds of financial reductions to make in UNLV’s athletic department, but contingency plans are being formed.
Lindy La Rocque, who went to Durango High School before going to play and coach at Stanford, was named UNLV’s women’s basketball coach.
UNLV jumped on Colorado State early Tuesday night at the Thomas Mack Center and rolled to an 80-56 victory to move into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Mountain West.
Bryce Hamilton scored 35 points, and Marvin Coleman became the first UNLV player in more than 20 years to register a triple-double as the Rebels defeated New Mexico 99-78.
UNLV took a nine-point lead early in the second half, but Pacific rallied to take control and beat the Rebels 74-66 on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Rebels outscored the Wildcats 22-8 over the final 9:42 after Abilene Christian had tied the game at 50.
Cleveland Edwards, an assistant men’s basketball coach on UNLV’s national championship team who later served as the interim head coach, died Saturday.
The 6-foot-3-inch guard chose the Rebels over UNR, San Diego State, Colorado State, Washington State and Minnesota. He averaged 15.2 points last season for the Aggies.
The 6-foot-2-inch guard announced Saturday that he had chosen the Rebels over Gonzaga and Oregon. He averaged 19.7 points last season for South Dakota State.
The Rebels have timing working in their favor for their nonconference games, with a chance to pick up some nice victories that otherwise might be more difficult to achieve.
Wyoming senior guard Justin James leads the Mountain West with 20.7 points per game. UNLV visits the Cowboys at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Laramie.
UNLV plays San Jose State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels hope to respond after Wednesday’s 106-88 loss at Air Force.
Dan Ayala, who owns the highest winning percentage among UNLV women’s basketball coaches, died Monday in hospice care at 82. Ayala coached the Lady Rebels from 1975 to 1980, going 109-23 for an 82.7 winning percentage.
UNLV senior Shakur Juiston was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court, which recognizes academic achievement.
