WINK GETS NOD

It’s halftime at the Thomas & Mack with New Mexico clinging to a 32-30 lead over UNLV, and, yes, there was a Wink sighting.
Injured UNLV senior guard Wink Adams returned to the court with 12:25 to play in the first half and was greeted with a semi-standing ovation from the crowd, which appeared to be in the 14,000 to 15,000 range.
Adams turned over the ball the first time he touched it, but New Mexico returned the favor so no harm was done.
He was hardly tentative, looking to shoot (he was 0-for-4) and take the ball to the basket (he picked up an offensive foul for his efforts). But Coach Lon Kruger also was cautious with Adams, not using him to set screens or run him off picks where he might re-aggravate his sore lower abdominal muscle.
Adams came out at the 6:55 mark and returned after the four-minute media timeout. He was scoreless at intermission after nine minutes of action.

HURTING THE REBELS
The guy doing UNLV harm was Daniel Faris, New Mexico’s gangly 6-foot-inch senior center. He was a stiff when Ritchie McKay brought him to Albuquerque, but Steve Alford appears to have done a nice job of getting the most out of him. Faris had 10 first-half points and was killing UNLV inside with a deft touch around the basket.

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
Both teams were cold shooting the ball in the first 20 minutes. New Mexico was just 20 percent from 3-point range. UNLV was 33 percent from the field and 4-of-13 from beyond the arc. Tre’Von Willis leads the Rebels with six points.
Look for UNLV to attack the basket more in the second half rather than settle for jumpers. At least that’s what the Rebels should try to do. And while they’re at it, a little transition defense, fellas. New Mexico beat UNLV down the floor on several occasions and that shouldn’t happen, especially at home.