UNLV yet again proves to be its own worst enemy
Let's examine the final 3:07 of this basketball game UNLV needed to win and couldn't, one that over those pressure-packed moments Saturday, San Diego State looked every bit the part of a nationally ranked team and the Rebels looked every bit the part of a confused and rushed bunch.
You can trim San Diego State's 63-57 win before a sellout crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center to seven UNLV possessions that secured the Rebels' fourth straight loss to the Aztecs and seventh in eight games.
To hasty decisions.
To bad shot selection.
To a stretch where the country's No. 6 team was again tougher and discovered a way to win while the Rebels were soft and didn't.
It's a fine line. You don't want to tell perimeter players not to take big shots and yet you would hope they are savvy enough to understand a game's flow and circumstance.
The Rebels rallied from 10 down with less than 10 minutes remaining by attacking the Aztecs. They went from down 49-39 to up 55-54, scoring those 16 points on six layups and four free throws. They got to the rim or line by being aggressive.
They fouled out San Diego State forward Billy White with 3:19 left and had Aztecs forward Malcolm Thomas play the final 9:25 with four fouls. The Aztecs had two field goals in the final 12 minutes and one in the final 9:30.
And won.
On the road.
In front of 18,557.
How?
UNLV coach Lon Kruger used the word rhythm a few times afterward in explaining why of his team's final seven shots (all misses), six came from 3-point range.
It's true several were uncontested and that UNLV did a nice job screening to create open looks.
But know who you are and what got you to that point.
I can't believe I'm typing this why in the world didn't UNLV call a timeout and yell at someone to keep feeding the ball inside to Brice Massamba?
The junior had 11 points and six rebounds, including two critical baskets to help get UNLV the lead. He was rolling off picks into San Diego State players in foul trouble. The last time he was this active on the offensive boards, hewas wearing a Findlay Prep uniform.
Instead, UNLV offers these final seven possessions:
Missed shot No. 1: A 3-point attempt by Chace Stanback with 2:24 left and UNLV up one. Not a bad shot. It was from his favorite spot in the corner, and if it falls, the Rebels are up four and probably win.
Missed shot No. 2: A 3-point attempt by Tre'Von Willis just 12 seconds into the shot clock of a tie game with 1:58 left. A really, really, really bad shot. You have to attack there. Draw a foul. Make the Aztecs defend deeper into the clock.
Missed shot No. 3: A 3-point attempt by Oscar Bellfield via an offensive rebound from the Willis miss. Again, an open shot. Again, a bad one.
Tie game. Drive the ball. Make them defend. Play off another screen from Massamba, roll the big kid to the basket and then decide to pass or attack.
Missed shot No. 4: A 3-point attempt by Willis again just 12 seconds into the shot clock and UNLV down two and 51 seconds remaining.
Look. San Diego State is long and athletic and tough to score against. But you're down just a basket at home. You have to get a higher percentage shot.
Stop with the open shots comments. The Rebels shoot 31 percent from 3 and were 1-for-15 on Saturday. They are now 2-for-33 in two games against the Aztecs this season. It's nearly impossible to be that bad.
Missed shot No. 5: A 3-point attempt by Stanback with UNLV down four and 37 seconds left.
Why not try to extend the game by driving and getting a basket or getting fouled? Thomas was nearly offering the lane with his four fouls. But a miss from 3 and a defensive rebound ends any comeback hope.
Stanback missed. San Diego State rebounded. Game over.
Missed shots Nos. 6 and 7: Anthony Marshall had a layup fall away with 12 seconds left and his 3-point attempt bounced off with less than five. They were more desperation than anything.
Talking rhythm puts a nice spin on things and taking open shots is fine most games. But how the Rebels played that final 3:07 isn't. They're not near as good as San Diego State but had every opportunity to beat the Aztecs, to improve their NCAA Tournament resume, to not sit here today 3-3 in home Mountain West Conference games, to continue playing in the same manner that allowed them to take the lead late.
For whatever reason, they didn't.
"Yeah, obviously it would have been good to get," Kruger said. "But that's not going to change the outcome."
Smarter shot selection down the stretch sure might have.
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," FOX Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.
