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Utah center Cameron Koford gets past the UNLV defense for a dunk.
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March 15, 2003
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS - Dalron Johnson scored 21 points, and Marcus Banks had 14 as UNLV easily advanced to the finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament with a 64-41 victory over top-seeded Utah on Friday night.
The fourth-seeded Rebels (21-9) blew open the game with a blistering 35-6 run over 11½ minutes of the second half. They ran all over the Runnin' Utes, repeatedly streaking downcourt for fast-break baskets and 3-pointers while Utah (24-7) flailed.
UNLV's home fans cheered their Rebels into a matchup with sixth-seeded Colorado State on Saturday night. The Rams got an 86-80 overtime victory over No. 2 seed Brigham Young in the first game.
Utah took an eight-point lead on Nick Jacobson's 3-pointer early in the second half - but the Utes waited 10:04 for their next field goal. Coach Rick Majerus berated his players, called timeouts and watched blankly with his hands on his knees, but UNLV was unstoppable.
With 15 seconds remaining, Majerus walked downcourt, shook UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour's hand and headed for the tunnel, not waiting for the final buzzer.
UNLV scored 17 straight points early in the second half, turning a 31-23 deficit into a nine-point lead on J.K. Edwards' three-point play. Johnson and James Peters also had three-point plays during the rally, which was caused by a relentless fast break and Utah's horrific defense.
The Rebels' up-tempo offense has rarely looked better. Banks distributed the ball smoothly, while Johnson and Edwards, who had seven points and seven rebounds, finished nearly every play near the basket. Peters added nine points and seven rebounds for the Rebels, who shot 53 percent.
After grinding out a victory over Air Force in the first round, the Utes
collapsed in their second game without senior forward Britton Johnsen, who has
mononucleosis. But Johnsen's absence couldn't explain the Runnin' Utes'
atrocious team defense, which allowed UNLV to run the floor with impunity in
the second half.
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It was the Utes' worst loss of the season and UNLV's biggest win in the schools' rivalry. Despite winning three of the conference's four regular-season championships, Utah has never won the Mountain West tournament - and now, the Utes must hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
