MWC trip can lead to fall

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- While he sat out last season as a redshirt, Chace Stanback watched from a distance as UNLV took a few opponents for granted and was repeatedly embarrassed on the Mountain West Conference road.

The Rebels were red-faced after getting upset at Colorado State, Texas Christian and Wyoming.

That was the trail map leading to the National Invitation Tournament, an undesirable destination that UNLV hopes to avoid revisiting.

Stanback, a sophomore forward, is now in a position to ensure there is no repeat of last year's mistakes. The Rebels (14-4, 2-2 MWC) begin a two-game trip by facing Colorado State (11-6, 2-1) at 7 p.m. today.

"It's not going to be easy," Stanback said. "We all know that."

Stanback said UNLV's players are "focused again" after getting stunned at home by Utah 73-69 on Saturday.

"We've got to stay sharp in everything we do, offensive and defensively," he said.

The Rebels' margin for error has been reduced. No more slip-ups, or no more talk about a MWC regular-season title.

A victory at New Mexico on Jan. 9 put UNLV in an advantageous position, which was negated by the loss to the Utes.

"We gave away the margin that we had," coach Lon Kruger said. "We gave back the one we had earned. We earned a win at New Mexico and we gave that one back. Those are hard to get in the plus column."

The Rebels, who won't return home after tonight's game, finish the week at Texas Christian on Saturday.

This is the trip that triggered UNLV's demise last year. Four days after getting upset at TCU, the Rebels hit a low point by losing 71-69 to the Rams, who stopped a 19-game regular-season conference losing streak.

"That was one of the worst feelings we had all year," Rebels junior Tre'Von Willis said.

UNLV fell behind 22-10, and Kruger, disgusted with his team's effort, cleared the bench in the first nine minutes and put walk-ons on the floor.

That Colorado State team was simply hapless. The Rams are more legitimate now, and they were showing signs of improvement before getting crushed 91-47 at Brigham Young on Saturday.

Freshman guard Dorian Green is Colorado State's scoring leader. But the Rams' strength is inside, where 6-foot-9-inch forward Andy Ogide and 6-7 Travis Franklin could expose the Rebels' weakness.

"Ogide is tough," Kruger said. "He's a real handful inside."

Willis is riding the best four-game stretch of his two seasons at UNLV. The 6-4 guard is averaging 23.5 points in league play, including a career-high 27 against Utah.

Stanback posted the Rebels' first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds Saturday. He has averaged 15.3 points in the past three games, after scoring a total of 15 points in his previous three games.

"Early in the season I wasn't as successful as I am now, but hopefully I can continue to be consistent," said Stanback, a transfer from UCLA. "I'm starting to get into a flow. I'm always asking myself for more, and the coaches want me to do more."

What the Rebels need is more success on the road, where they are 5-1 this season, to help atone for the costly home loss to Utah.

"Whenever you lose a game, it cuts down your margin," Willis said. "This is a big week for us."

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