Justin Hawkins forced a turnover on the potential game-winning possession with one second remaining and No. 14 UNLV held off No. 13 San Diego State, 65-63, at Thomas & Mack Center.
Mike Moser led the way with 19 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four blocks for the Runnin' Rebels (22-4, 6-2 Mountain West). Oscar Bellfield added 15 points and six assists, and Brice Massamba contributed 12 points for UNLV, which remained undefeated at home (14-0).
Chase Tapley dropped a game-high 22 points for SDSU (20-4, 6-2). Jamaal Franklin added 15 and eight rebounds for the Aztecs, who had a six-game winning streak against UNLV snapped.
SDSU, which trailed by as many as 13 in the second half, took its first lead of the final period, 63-62, on Tapley's three-pointer with 1:25 to go. But Moser picked off a pass on the Aztecs' next possession and dished it out to Anthony Marshall for a fastbreak layup and a one-point Rebel lead they would not relinquish.
SDSU had a chance to go in front with 21 seconds to go and possession, but Marshall stripped Franklin as he went up for a shot in the low post. That led to Chace Stanback going to the charity stripe, but he missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Hawkins got the offensive rebound and made 1-of-2 free throws with 10 seconds to go. Hawkins came up with a steal near midcourt to end the contest.
UNLV looked to be running away midway through the second, building up an 11 point lead with 9:18 to play. San Diego State refused to go away, however, and after Stanback's jumper put UNLV up 60-50, the Aztecs rolled off a 13-2 run, including a personal 7-2 flurry by Tapley.
"Give [SDSU] a lot of credit," said UNLV head coach Dave Rice. "They made very tough shots which is why they're as good of a team as they are."
The Rebels utilized a 10-0 edge in fastbreak points and a 11-2 run to close out the first half to lead 37-29.
Game Notes
