UNLV’s road tougher after pratfall at home

Mark it down as two losses. That’s how big it could translate in the race for a Mountain West Conference regular-season title. That’s how much UNLV needed to finish a job it couldn’t against San Diego State on Tuesday night.

Funny how quickly momentum can shift.

"It’s a deficit we’ll have to overcome," coach Lon Kruger said. "It’s a tough, tough step to overcome."

And it was a tough, tough game to watch. Basketball and monotony just don’t mix.

The Rebels lost to a conference opponent at the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in 28 tries because San Diego State handled a rugged, inconsistent, foul-filled pace better than UNLV.

The final score was 68-66 in overtime and it took nearly 21/2 hours to complete. It only seemed like six.

"A big win for them and disappointing for us," Kruger said. "We’ve been streaky this year, but San Diego State is a good ballclub. Their length bothered us. They’re long and rangy and athletic. They can go big and are still athletic. They played really hard and we did too."

It’s a shame both weren’t allowed to play more than a few minutes without another stoppage.

I have a dentist appointment this morning. It could take an hour. I was told it might be a good idea to bring along some music. The only problem: No matter what I listen to, I’m bound to hear nothing but whistles.

The pain that could hit me today first began to appear Tuesday, when in 45 minutes there were 44 fouls assessed and 59 free throws shot. It wasn’t worse for either team, just frustrating for both.

Fact: These are the two most athletic Mountain West teams and when you have guards and wings with this much quickness on both sides, players are going to consistently attack the rim and fouls are going to occur.

But it’s also true UNLV and San Diego State defended well enough in the halfcourt that countless calls could not have been made and neither team would have benefited more than the other.

I have never understood the constant interruption of plays in which no advantage is gained, and never could comprehend the desire to rob a game of all its flow and rhythm. There is no need for it. No good enough explanation.

But calls didn’t decide the game. San Diego State made more plays when winning was at stake. UNLV held Aztecs senior Kyle Spain to nine points in regulation, then lost him in overtime, when he scored eight of his team’s nine points. UNLV had shots from Joe Darger to win it in regulation and Wink Adams in overtime. Both missed.

UNLV attempted 31 free throws and made 21, and that won’t beat a team at your same skill level.

The Aztecs were better. They outshot and outrebounded UNLV. They walked into an arena where no conference team had won since San Diego State in 2006 and assumed control from the outset. They deserved to walk out winners.

"Coach talked before the game at practice about their length and athleticism," UNLV senior Rene Rougeau said. "It was definitely effective. They did a good job attacking us.

"We can’t worry about the refs. We had so many letdowns. If I hit a layup (with 43 seconds left in overtime and UNLV down one) and we make more free throws, we don’t have to worry about any calls."

Now, the Rebels have to worry about this: They begin the second half of MWC play Saturday a game out of first place at New Mexico, where the Lobos have won four league games by an average score of 78-55. San Diego State on Saturday hosts Air Force, meaning the Rebels could be two games out before boarding their plane home.

The Rebels need to worry that in the second half of the conference schedule, they have four home games while San Diego State has five at Cox Arena, where it is 9-1 with wins in its last eight. Utah, which can remain tied for first by winning at Texas Christian tonight, has four.

Advantage, San Diego State.

"It’s tough to go anywhere on the road and win in this league, but it’s really tough when you come in here," Spain said. "We just had to keep composure and stay focused because we knew it could turn into a nail-biter."

Oh it was that, all right.

All six hours of it.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.