UNLV’s fight can’t make up for its shooting plight

SAN DIEGO — There was a banana and a gecko and something that resembled an orange crayon and another that looked like Jabba the Hutt. The sign with Tre’Von Willis’ booking mug shot from the Henderson Police Department was very creative. So was the one with Gary Coleman’s face and the words, "Whatcha Chokin Bout Willis?"

The "I Believe That We Will Win!" chant was well done and yet not near the level of its creators at Utah State.

They sing songs by Muse before and during games here.

The 12,414 in attendance waving a sea of white towels?

"Rocking," UNLV guard Anthony Marshall said. "It got loud."

College basketball at its best is about this kind of atmosphere, this rowdy a student section, this sort of environment that the Rebels and San Diego State found themselves in at a sold-out Viejas Arena on Wednesday night.

But here’s the thing: Often, what happens in the stands is more impressive than what occurs on the court.

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher afterward likened games between the Aztecs and Rebels to an arm-wrestling match. This was more of a rugby scrum.

The Aztecs won 55-49 because they’re extremely tough to score against and UNLV couldn’t have hit water standing on the shores of the Pacific. It has become as much of a trend here as searching for Chick-fil-A — the Rebels roll onto San Diego State’s campus and start firing bricks.

"Certainly, we had some good looks we didn’t make, but I don’t want to say that without crediting San Diego State," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "They are very good defensively. Our effort all night was good, but San Diego State is very good."

The Aztecs are 18-0 overall, 3-0 in the Mountain West, ranked sixth and own the nation’s longest winning streak now that Duke lost at Florida State. But the Rebels were right there. They had opportunities. They had a wide-open 3 with 2:05 left that would have cut San Diego State’s lead to two and missed. They played well enough defensively to win.

San Diego State this season has 17 runs of more than 10 points, and 14 have come in the second half. The Aztecs just blitz people after intermission. They led by 12 with 11:54 remaining Wednesday, but the Rebels clawed back. They defended. Forced a few turnovers. Cut into the margin.

They’re just a different team against San Diego State over 40 minutes and lately not as good. There still are matchups the Rebels can’t solve.

UNLV made just 22 of 61 shots and was 1 of 18 on 3s, and while a lot of it was missing open looks, there also is the fact that when you shoot against San Diego State, you shoot against players who are a little bigger, a little longer and a lot more athletic than most opponents.

It doesn’t take much for great athletes to alter jumpers.

The box score also tells you San Diego State again ruled the boards against UNLV, that Kawhi Leonard (17 rebounds) and Malcolm Thomas (16 rebounds) combined for more rebounds than the Rebels (31).

But the Aztecs only had 10 at the offensive end and 13 second-chance points, numbers Kruger would’ve taken Wednesday and every day in between.

You can’t shoot this poorly and expect to have a chance against this athletic and talented a team.

"We knew it would be a hostile environment," Marshall said. "We didn’t want to back down. We wanted to fight, and I think we competed. They are very good. Great fan base. I believe they’re as good as (a No. 6 ranking)."

I believe for the foreseeable future, Marshall should be out of games only when he asks for a break. The sophomore led UNLV with 11 points, but his aggressiveness and attitude should keep him on the floor.

In two of three conference games — against the league’s two best teams in San Diego State and Brigham Young — Marshall has been UNLV’s most productive player.

Why doesn’t he start again?

But he couldn’t prove the difference Wednesday. No one could. Things got chippy. The teams combined for five 3-pointers and six technical fouls, more an indication of the physicality of play than any real outbursts. These teams just battle when facing each other.

Problem for UNLV is, it suddenly finds itself two games out in conference after just three played.

"(UNLV) plays hard 24/7," Aztecs forward Billy White said. "They never give up. Some people think we are still a joke, but we belong. We’re going to be here all year long."

So, too, I assume, will the banana and gecko and orange crayon.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM.