Rebels’ last rally fizzles

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — On the brink of one final embarrassment, UNLV made the type of inspired run that seniors Wink Adams and Rene Rougeau had hoped to see more of all season.

But in the end, the Rebels’ comeback Tuesday night typified their entire season. It was a tease that fell short at the finish line.

Trailing by 20 points early in the second half, UNLV rallied to trim its deficit to three before losing to Kentucky 70-60 in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

"I’m proud of my team for the way we fought," said Wink Adams, who led the Rebels with 14 points. "We did all we could do to try to win the game. It always feels bad to lose, but at least you know in your heart that you played 100 percent.

"This whole season has been up and down. We’ve been struggling with our shooting. I wish it could have went another way."

UNLV lost its last three games to finish 21-11.

Junior guard Jodie Meeks scored 19 points, including six in the final three minutes, to lead the Wildcats (21-13). Patrick Patterson had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Consecutive dunks by Perry Stevenson and Patterson put Kentucky up 50-30 with 16 minutes left, and a loud crowd of 8,327 in Memorial Coliseum sensed a blowout.

"It was an opportunity to make one of two choices, and our guys fought like crazy," Rebels coach Lon Kruger said.

The Wildcats led 56-38 before freshman Oscar Bellfield buried a 3-pointer to ignite a 19-4 spurt by UNLV.

Adams made two 3-pointers to pull the Rebels within 58-50 with 8:38 remaining. Adams’ two free throws soon cut UNLV’s deficit to 60-54.

Senior forward Joe Darger’s 3 made it 60-57 with 4:04 left, and UNLV’s trapping defense and sudden ability to hit shots seemed to rattle Kentucky.

But Meeks pulled up and knocked down a 15-foot jumper with three minutes remaining. The Rebels responded by stringing together four empty possessions, and Meeks made four free throws down the stretch.

"They knocked down some tough shots, but I thought we did a good job withstanding their run," said Meeks, who shot 5-for-12 and was held below his scoring average of 24.2 points.

As Kruger barked at the officials during the final minutes, Wildcats coach Billy Gillispie motioned for Kruger to get slapped with a technical, but it didn’t happen.

"I was real happy we made the comeback," said Rougeau, who had seven points and five rebounds. "We didn’t win, but it was a good feeling to make it a good game. We definitely had Gillispie sweating over there."

In their final game as UNLV seniors, Darger scored 11 points and Mareceo Rutledge added 10.

Offensive problems continued to plague the Rebels, who shot 10-for-30 overall, including 3-for-17 on 3-pointers, and 1-for-6 on free throws in the first half.

UNLV jumped to a 9-2 lead before getting overwhelmed 34-15 the rest of the half. Patterson’s rebound dunk just before time expired lifted Kentucky to a 36-24 halftime lead, and Meeks’ 3-pointer made the score 42-24 early in the second.

Patterson credited the fan support in the small arena for boosting the Wildcats, saying, "We played a lot harder and with more intensity."

The Rebels did the same to rally in the second half, but the result was another loss and the end to a disappointing season.

"We can’t really hold our heads down, because me and Wink have had great careers at UNLV," Rougeau said.

An NIT flameout was nowhere near what the Rebels expected after winning three NCAA Tournament games the previous two years.

"These seniors have been fantastic … in establishing a foundation for the program," Kruger said. "Although they are very disappointed right now, they will look back on it and feel very good about their contributions."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.