Rebels locked in an unexpected struggle

UNLV entered tonight’s game in Cedar City, Utah as 19-point favorites, but has struggled throughout much of the first half and leads just 31-30 at halftime.

The Rebels fell behind 8-2 and never really could get it going.

Chace Stanback has 10 points, including a 3-pointer in the final minute to give the Rebels the lead. It was his second of the game on just two attempts.

The rest of the team is 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Rebels are also just 3 of 8 from the free-throw line, and have been out-rebounded 21-20.

Tre’Von Willis has five points, and Darris Santee added two points and five rebounds.

Davis Baker, Matt Massey and Matt Hodsgon each have six points for the Thunderbirds.

UNLV finally created some points in transition by using its defense to get easy looks late in the half.

Stanback blocked a shot and then ran the court and got a wide open 3-pointer after the ball swung around with about 2:30 remaining in the first half.

Tre’Von Willis then immediately got a steal and a breakaway layup.

The quick 5-0 run should be a blueprint for what the Rebels want to do in the second half.

Southern Utah will turn the ball over against the Rebels if the pressure is turned up, it’s just a matter of effort.

Making the rounds

One thing that you do on road trips that you wouldn’t ordinarily do at home is watch morning television.

Somehow, I ended up watching “The View” for the first time in, oh, ever.

I was intrigued to stop on the channel because anytime you see Elizabeth Hasselbeck in a conversation with Snoop Dogg, you have to watch.

First of all, the former “Survivor” castmate and one of the other co-hosts whose name I couldn’t even guess were wearing cupcake hats for a reason that went unexplained.

Then, the unnamed co-host said herself and Hasselbeck have been Snoop fans for a long time.

I find it very hard to believe that the ultra-conservative wife of a washed up quarterback is bumping Snoop D-O-Double-Gizzle records in her car on her off days, but I digress.

I then flipped through and found another morning show that also had Snoop as a guest.

Are these shows always just the same content every day and I just don’t know it because I never wake up before noon?

Very strange.

Favorite player?

Davis Baker is Southern Utah’s leading scorer and he has some very scruffy facial hair, which endears me to almost any player.

But neither of those things make him one of my favorite players in college basketball this year.

In the team’s media guide, he lists “Seinfeld” as his favorite television show. I have the same preference, but that’s not all that uncommon. That’s probably the best show of all time, so it’s no surprise.

The strange thing is that he also lists “Dumb and Dumber” as his favorite movie.

I don’t know how much that says about us that we share the film as our favorite, but you’ve got to admire the kid’s sense of humor.

Kid is an important designation, too. He is just 23, so the movie is a bit before his time.

Way to embrace the classics, Davis.