UNLV downs long shot

If there is such a thing as a big shot in the second half of a blowout, UNLV junior Chace Stanback hit one Wednesday night.

The Rebels had long since put away another far inferior opponent when center Brice Massamba approached Stanback on the bench and implored him to take care of some unfinished business.

"Brice came up to me and said, 'Chace, go out there and do it,' " Stanback said. "I heard the crowd."

A short time later, Stanback buried a 3-pointer from the left corner to trigger a roar from the Thomas & Mack Center crowd of 10,334 and cap UNLV's 92-56 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

The Rebels had made at least one 3-point shot in an NCAA-record 773 consecutive games, a streak dating to 1986, but the record was in jeopardy. Finally, Stanback spotted up and made a wide-open look with 7:26 remaining, extending the streak to 774.

"It means a lot to everybody -- players, coaches and fans. We want to keep that streak alive," Stanback said. "I got the opportunity, and I knocked it down."

UNLV was 0-for-7 from 3-point range until Stanback's shot, the last 3 the Rebels attempted in an otherwise nondescript game.

"The fans were certainly anxious for one," coach Lon Kruger said. "We would be very disappointed if the streak didn't continue."

More important for UNLV (2-0) is its short winning streak, and that will be challenged when Wisconsin, one of the strongest teams in the Big Ten, shows up Saturday.

Kruger said senior guard Tre'Von Willis, who finished a four-game suspension for offseason legal issues, will return and come off the bench against the Badgers.

"It will be a tough game," said Massamba, who had 12 points and five rebounds in the type of interior effort the Rebels will need against Wisconsin.

Massamba shot 4-for-6 from the field and the free-throw line and played 26 minutes because starting post man Quintrell Thomas fouled out in eight minutes. Thomas scored all seven of his points in the first half.

"My teammates were looking for me more," said Massamba, whose nine points lifted the Rebels to a 44-29 halftime lead. "Coach Kruger wanted me to be more aggressive and do the things the team needed."

Sophomore guard Anthony Marshall scored 14 points to lead five UNLV players in double figures. Justin Hawkins had 11 points, and Stanback and freshman Karam Mashour added 10 apiece. Mashour, making his debut after opting not to redshirt, made 5 of 6 shots in the second half.

Carlos Lopez, a 6-foot-11-inch freshman forward, finished with seven points, five rebounds and three of the Rebels' 12 blocked shots.

Despite its poor long-range shooting, UNLV hit 62.5 percent (35 of 56) from the field. Marshall, Hawkins and guards Oscar Bellfield and Derrick Jasper continually cut through the Lions' defense to get to the rim.

"The credit goes to the big men because they are so physical down low. It opens up lanes for us to penetrate," Marshall said.

"Our intensity was pretty good in the first game, but we had a couple letdowns tonight."

The hot 3-point shooting of Trent Hutchin and Brandon Fortenberry kept Southeastern Louisiana close for most of the first half. Fortenberry's 3 put the Lions on top 21-20 with nine minutes left, but the Rebels answered with a 10-0 run.

Hutchin (18 points) and Fortenberry (16) each made four 3-pointers for Southeastern Louisiana (1-1).

Marshall dunked as the Rebels stretched their lead to 49-29 three minutes into the second half. Stanback's 3-pointer, which might have seemed insignificant to the visitors but not the crowd, made the score 77-47.

UNLV committed 14 turnovers and allowed 14 offensive rebounds, leading Kruger to say, "It showed we've got a lot of work to do."

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