No. 19 UNLV turns back Hawaii men’s basketball team 74-69
Hawaii center Vander Joaquim, right, shoots over UNLV forward Quintrell Thomas (1) and UNLV guard Anthony Marshall (3) during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
UNLV forward Quintrell Thomas, top, shoots over Hawaii guard Zane Johnson (3) during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
UNLV guard Oscar Bellfield (0) dribbles past Hawaii guard Shaquille Stokes (4) during the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Hawaii basketball head coach Gib Arnold, right, argues with Hawaii forward Joston Thomas (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UNLV, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Hawaii guard Jeremiah Ostrowski (11) dribbles through the UNLV defense during the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
UNLV guard Anthony Marshall (3) makes a pass under Hawaii center Davis Rozitis (13) during the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Hawaii men’s basketball team’s upset bid of No. 19 UNLV came up short on New Years Eve as the Runnin’ Rebels prevailed 74-69 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UNLV (15-2) turned back every push UH (8-6) made in the second half, never allowing the ‘Bows closer than two in front of a crowd of over 5,000. The Rebels won for the seventh time in eight games, while UH’s three-game winning streak was snapped.
Point guard Anthony Marshall (19 points and 13 rebounds), forward Mike Moser (15 points and 12 boards), and swingman Chace Stanback (13 points on 6-for-7 shooting) were the Rebel heroes in turning back UH. Marshall’s driving two-handed dunk for a 72-64 lead with 1:20 left effectively iced it.
Junior forward Joston Thomas led UH with his second straight double-double, 16 points and 15 rebounds, setting a new career high in boards. Junior center Vander Joaquim scored all of his 15 points in the second half, and senior guard Zane Johnson had all of his 12 in the first. Johnson left woozy late in the game after falling hard trying to take a charge.
UH got to within 43-41 on a Joston Thomas backdoor cut with under 15 minutes to play, but UNLV’s Justin Hawkins came back with a 3-pointer and the Rebels pushed the lead back to six.
Hauns Brereton nailed a 3 with 11:30 left to make it 51-48.
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After Johnson went out after apparently hitting his head trying to take a charge with 9:20 left, UH got three straight baskets from Thomas to make it 58-56.
But UNLV went on an 8-2 run and UH got it no closer than 68-64 with 2:48 to play.
UH shot only 25 percent in the first half and trailed 35-28 at halftime.
The ‘Bows open WAC play at home on Jan. 7 against San Jose State.
