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UNLV vs. Nevada final score: Rebels Use Overtime to Put Away Wolf Pack

The UNLV and UNR game was a true rivalry match up that took an overtime to settle a back and forth affair. The Rebels came away with a victory 102-91 on Saturday night.

By EaNicoleMadrigal
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
LAS VEGAS – This was the kind of game that encapsulates "rivalry."  UNLV was supposed to be the far superior team this season, but with a squad hindered by injuries to major players - including tonight's absence of Dwayne Morgan due to a shoulder injury - the Rebels season has gone anything by smoothly.  

In fact, at this point in the season, it's the Wolf Pack team that has a more complete roster of primarily healthy players (most of whom have extensive prior experience in this rivalry).  Could the Rebels' talent, despite the depleted roster, come away with a victory?  Tonight, the answer was "yes" but it would take an overtime to make it happen.

With just under 8 minutes to go in the first half, the Rebels tried to pull away from the Wolf Pack with lock down defense. But, UNR climbed back in things and tied the game after a poor decision by Ike Nwamu to talk directly to the  Wolf Packbench after a made 3 pointer.

Interim Head Coach Todd Simon lit into Nwamu as he approached the bench.  This was Nwamu's second technical in the last two games, both coming at critical times in the game when UNLV had momentum.  And it seemed anytime the Rebs claimed momentum against the  Wolf Pack, Reno stole it right back.

In fact, the Rebels could not build a significant lead the entire game.  The Vegas crowd grew more cantankerous after a number of poorly timed 3s and missed offensive opportunities.  This, combined with a small rotation, allowed UNR to slowly take over the lead in the second half.

UNR took advantage of a tired Rebels' team and eventually went up by as many as 7 as Marqueze Coleman began to take control of the game.  However, in true rivalry fashion, the Rebs patiently crept back into the game to tie things up at 74 with 1:24 left in the game. Then Jordan Cornish put the Rebs up by one when he made one and missed one at the free throw line.

With under a minute to go and UNLV now up by three, Coleman was cold blooded and tied the game at 77 with a made three-pointer. Even more ruthless, Coleman used the next possession with just 3 seconds left to make - what seemed to be - the game winning 3.  The air deflated from the arena crowd.

On a prayer, Patrick McCaw made a shocking running three-pointer to send the game into over time. The fans in Sin City erupted.  The Rebels extended the game in an unfathomable fashion. It paid off for them in the extended five minutes.

Here is the final sequence that sent the game to overtime.


The Rebels dominated the over time period and the Wolf Pack played as if they were stunned that the game didn't end in their favor.  To Reno's credit, they came into a house of 14,000 plus and had the fans biting their nails much of the game until the Runnin' Rebels dominated the overtime period.

After the game, and in reference to his team's grit throughout this game and this season, Interim coach Todd Simon stated, "They continue to dig in... it just shows the character of this group.  They continue to answer the bell.  They continue to find a way by still buying in....We've been in so many close games... we've had a decade's worth of adversity in 3 weeks.... It's an 'us versus the world' mentality." 

Simon was also impressed by the sizeable and engaged crowd that came to support a team that has experienced a rollercoaster of challenges.

In reference to the passionate Rebel fans, he commented, "They came out, they showed up, they said, 'we have your back.'"  And as this tweeted video from The Rebel Report shows, the fans at the Thomas and Mack enjoyed every minute of tonight's match up all the way until the end:
As UNLV fans chanted, "Rebels, Rebels" throughout much of the end of the game, it was clear that despite such an unpredictable last few months, the crowd in Las Vegas is always grateful for a hard working squad and a win (especially over Reno).

UNLV improves to 16-12 in the season and UNR to 16-10, but the Rebels still have a losing conference record at 7-8.

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