Lobos grab UNLV, MWC race by throat

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The message a week ago was about climbing back on course, about again controlling one's destiny, about going out and winning an outright regular-season conference basketball championship for the first time since 1991-92.

The reality today: UNLV is closer to fourth place than first.

That's how fast things change.

That's how dreadful the Rebels continue to be away from home.

Fact: Contrary to what the Rebels said afterward, there isn't a lot of basketball to be played, not with how New Mexico is playing, not with how the Lobos ran the Rebels out of The Pit on Saturday before a deafening 15,411 and a national-TV audience that saw a UNLV side still unable to handle life on the road.

As 20-point losses go, UNLV's 65-45 defeat was as bad as the score says. The Rebels couldn't make many of the few shots they managed over the second half and didn't come close to defending well enough to stay in a game they led by a point at halftime.

"The only thing we can worry about right now is our next game," coach Dave Rice said. "We have three of our next four at home. The only game we're worried about is Boise State (on Wednesday). I would think the deck is probably stacked against us a little bit, but stranger things have happened in this conference."

Strange things won't happen if the Lobos remain this hot.

If they do, the Mountain West race is over.

Surveying the damage of a forgettable week on the road for UNLV, which was serenaded with chants of "Over-rated" and opposing student sections celebrating by twice storming the floor: In blowing an 18-point second-half lead and losing in overtime at Texas Christian before just getting blown out here, the Rebels can certainly expect their No. 11 national ranking to plummet come Monday. So, too, might those bracketology forecasts of an NCAA Tournament seed in the 3-4 range.

If a team's performance away from its home court plays a major part in how the tournament selection committee views its NCAA worthiness (it does), you have to figure the Rebels won't be given much benefit of the doubt. You have to figure they won't deserve much of one, either. UNLV is now 5-6 in true road games and a few missed shots from being 3-8.

Even when they try to play inside-out, the Rebels at day's end are a jump-shooting team with no consistent post presence, a fact that was exposed at both ends Saturday by a senior who must now be considered the favorite for conference Player of the Year.

Drew Gordon is the major reason UNLV is tied with San Diego State for second place, going for 27 points and 20 rebounds. Some disputed that last number and felt Gordon only pulled down 19 boards.

It hardly matters. He kicked UNLV's tail all day long. The Rebels struggled escaping baseline screens that freed Gordon inside, didn't guard him well enough to stop his midrange jumper outside and never attacked him well enough to get him in foul trouble.

UNLV didn't double-team the post and Gordon had his way. Then it doubled some and the Lobos found open shooters.

Then, well, it just got worse and worse for the Rebels.

And that was just on defense.

"We couldn't make anything," sophomore Mike Moser said of UNLV's 4-for-17 shooting in the second half. "We couldn't get it done. They were at their best, for sure. I'm not even specifically sure what they did. But they played tough. Definitely, it's going to be tough (catching New Mexico)."

Moser scored two points in the final 38 minutes. Anthony Marshall had 12 of UNLV's 18 second-half points and still hasn't played all that well lately. Oscar Bellfield shot 2 of 9. Chace Stanback was 1 of 4 in 23 minutes and simply can't move right now, hampered by an ailing knee that twice allowed a player (Tony Snell) who doesn't drive on anyone to blow past him for dunks.

You know what's going to happen. UNLV will win its final three home games against inferior opponents (Boise State, Air Force and Wyoming), have no better than a 50-50 chance at this point to beat Colorado State in Fort Collins, win nine or 10 league games and finish second as a suddenly worn-down and beaten-up San Diego State side falters down the stretch.

New Mexico plays at Colorado State on Tuesday. If the Lobos win, there isn't a lot of basketball to be played. There isn't a race anymore.

Teams that lose at Wyoming and then at TCU in the way UNLV did find themselves in the unenviable role of now rooting for others instead of grabbing a title on their own.

Maybe there is still hope. Maybe the Lobos suddenly go cold and UNLV can earn at least a share of the title.

Yeah. Those are some big maybes.

But if the reality a few weeks from now is the same as today, at least the Rebels won't need to look far for the reason why yet another season has passed without an outright conference championship.

They'll just need to find the nearest mirror.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.