Well-rested UNI falls flat

One team spent three days preparing to play, and the other had less than 24 hours to get ready.

Guess who won?

UNLV returned from Monday night's win at Texas-El Paso at 5 p.m. Tuesday. While the Rebels were in the air, Northern Iowa was in Las Vegas and practicing at the Mendenhall Center. The Panthers were supposedly prepared to give the Rebels all they could handle.

It didn't quite work out that way, as No. 21 UNLV dominated early and rolled to a 73-59 win Wednesday night before 14,484 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"It was tough, but our coaches did a tremendous job preparing us with the scouting report," Rebels senior guard Anthony Marshall said. "Our team focus was great."

UNLV coach Dave Rice said his team's chemistry allowed it to overcome any issues as the Rebels improved to 10-1.

"We trusted ourselves," Rice said. "Two things helped us win this game: One, we were able to rely on our athleticism, and that has to do with playing with great effort. Two, we relied on our defensive concepts. We didn't want them to come in here and shoot a great percentage from outside."

Northern Iowa was 3-for-11 from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half, and that helped UNLV build a 43-22 halftime lead. Overall, the Panthers were 9-for-24 on 3s and shot 67 percent from the free-throw line, missing the front end of two one-and-ones with the Rebels up 62-49.

"Those were killer misses," UNI coach Ben Jacobson said. "We had missed a layup before that, too. So we're talking about maybe getting it to seven if we make our free throws, and maybe we find a way to sneak out of here with one.

"It started with our defense, though. We didn't defend the way we needed to at the start of the game, particularly in transition, and it made it hard to come back. Throw in the fact UNLV's playing at home, and they came out with all that energy, and it was real tough for us to overcome that."

Northern Iowa (6-5) has faced several top teams this season, including Louisville and Memphis. Jacobson said UNLV is right there with the Cardinals and Tigers.

"They're very talented and very deep," he said. "And they were playing without (Mike) Moser. There's a team that can probably make a run in the NCAA Tournament."

Jacobson said he had no idea why his team was flat, particularly given the preparation time both teams dealt with heading into Wednesday's game.

"I think part of it is anytime you play at home you have an opportunity to be pretty good, and UNLV is terrific at home," he said. "They were more determined than we were and taking away the things we wanted to do, so you give them credit for accomplishing those things."

Northern Iowa guard Anthony James said: "We knew they're good. They're a Top-25 team. I don't know that having three or four days to prepare mattered. We were prepared, but they just pounded on us early."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.