IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

Lady Rebels stage rally, upset No. 16 Colonials

UNLV overcame a 24-point halftime deficit thanks to some stellar second-half defense and strong shooting, upsetting No. 16 George Washington 62-61 Friday in the Lady Privateers Invitational in New Orleans.

Sequoia Holmes had 22 of her game-high 25 points in the second half for UNLV (2-4). She hit the go-ahead jumper with 51 seconds left and outscored George Washington by herself in the final 20 minutes.

George Washington (5-2) had a 41-29 rebounding edge, including 19 offensive boards. But UNLV shot 60 percent in the second half and limited the Colonials to 27 percent.

It was a complete turnaround from the first half, which saw George Washington limit UNLV to 25 percent shooting in claiming a 40-16 halftime lead.

Also: The top-ranked North Carolina men’s team might be without point guard Ty Lawson for a second straight game when the Tar Heels play at Kentucky today.

The speedy sophomore has been unable to practice fully this week because of an ankle he sprained against Brigham Young in last week’s Las Vegas Invitational.

NBA commissioner David Stern denied a game protest by Dallas, ruling that a field goal incorrectly counted as a 3-pointer didn’t impact the outcome of the Mavericks’ four-point loss to Indiana on Nov. 23.

GOLF

Rose, Immelman lead Nedbank Challenge

Justin Rose shot a 7-under-par 65 to share the lead with Trevor Immelman after two rounds of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

Rose and Immelman (66) are at 11-under 133, three strokes ahead of Ernie Els.

Also: Frank Lickliter II followed his two opening 62s with a 4-under 68 at Orange County National for a five-stroke lead after the third of six rounds in the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Winter Garden, Fla.

The top 25 finishers and ties will get 2008 PGA Tour cards.

Clark High School product Robert Gamez withdrew during the round because of a left wrist injury.

MISCELLANEOUS

Phelps swims to first wins since wrist injury

Michael Phelps won his first competitive race since breaking a bone in his wrist in October, taking the 200-yard freestyle at the U.S. short course national championships in Atlanta.

Phelps later led off the victorious 800 free relay that broke the American and U.S. Open records.

Phelps went 0-for-2 Thursday, losing to rival Ryan Lochte’s American record in the 200 individual medley and finishing second with his club team in a relay.

Also: Three UNLV women’s swimmers posted top-16 finishes to help the Rebels to a seventh-place standing after the second day of the three-day Texas Invitational in Austin.

Kim Bonney had UNLV’s best finish, an eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1 minute, 4.62 seconds.

The UNLV men’s team stands 10th after one top-16 finish on the second day, a seventh in the 200 medley relay (1:31.96).

Anthony Harding had a career-high 121 yards rushing on a wet, slippery field to help Fresno State beat New Mexico State 30-23 in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Bulldogs (8-4, 6-2 Western Athletic Conference) improved to 14-0 all time against New Mexico State (4-9, 1-7) and now will wait to see which bowl game offers them an invitation.