Aztecs cruising

UNLV senior guard Wink Adams shoots against San Diego State in the first half of their Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinal basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center Thursday. K.M. CANNON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

San Diego State beat UNLV twice during the regular season and it doesn’t appear the Rebels have done anything to correct the problems.

The Aztecs are just so long and athletic that they are able to take UNLV out of anything they want to do on both ends of the floor.

Wink Adams scored 17 points for UNLV in the opening half, but San Diego State takes a 42-27 lead into the locker room.

Ryan Amoroso and Lorrenzo Wade each have nine points for the Aztecs.

Kyle Spain has seven points, rebounds and three assists for San Diego State, but its the defense that is controlling the game.

UNLV made just 8 of 21 field goal attempts and had only two assists in the first half.

Adams is trying to make sure the team advances in the tournament, but he is essentially on his own on the offensive end.

He has made six of the team’s field goals.

It could be much worse for UNLV as it has outscored the Aztecs 9-2 at the free-throw line.

Foul trouble costs Rougeau

Rene Rougeau played just three minutes before picking up his second foul and being relegated to the bench.

In his absence, Brice Massamba got extended minutes for the Rebels.

Lon Kruger decided to put Rougeau back in the game after UNLV fell behind by 13 points at the third media timeout.

Rougeau did not pick up a third foul, but UNLV wasn’t able to get much closer anyway.

Get smaller shoes

When UNLV played at Air Force, Kendall Wallace was forced to wear a pair of shoes that were much too small because his were missing.

Perhaps some of his teammates should do the same.

Both Wink Adams and Mareceo Rutledge made shots with their toes on the 3-point line in the first half.

If each player wore shoes a size smaller, UNLV would have two additional points on the board.

Tavernari swipes a Sprite

Jonathan Tavernari had just one steal during Brigham Young’s victory over Air Force, but he added one in the postgame news conference.

As he was leaving the media center after his interview, Tavernari swiped a bowl of popcorn and a Sprite.