5 takeaways from UNLV’s loss to San Diego State on Saturday

Five takeaways from the UNLV basketball team's 67-52 loss on Saturday to San Diego State at the Thomas & Mack Center:

1. Uh oh. UNLV has shown signs of being a team that could be scary in March, but this setback was a message that miles exist between the Rebels and the Mountain West's best team.

2. And it could get uglier soon. The Rebels aren't exactly stellar away from home (2-5 in true road games), and now they go to New Mexico (13-8, 6-2 MW) and Fresno State (14-7, 5-3) this week, two teams ahead of UNLV (13-9, 4-5) in the conference standings.

3. UNLV better hope forward Ben Carter won't be out long. He sprained his left knee against San Diego State, and if he's out for an extended period, UNLV will miss the energy Carter brings when he's on the floor.

4. The Rebels are way too in love with the 3-pointer. That's not exactly breaking news, but the problem is they continue to take that shot even when it's not working. UNLV is at its best when it attacks the basket.

5. Free throw problems aren't going away. There was a glimmer of hope recently that maybe the Rebels had overcome those difficulties, but they're backing to missing them in droves. Hard to win when missing six of nine from the line.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65