Ragged Rebels stumble in second loss

UC Santa Barbara star James Nunnally rolled into Las Vegas knowing the odds, as well as the opposing defense, would be stacked against him. But he beat both thoroughly.

Nunnally scored 23 points as the Gauchos stunned 22nd-ranked UNLV 68-62 Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I don't think one person besides us thought we could come in here and win this game," he said. "We had the nothing-to-lose mentality. We had to be tough. It's a huge win."

The Rebels (9-2) were 16-point favorites but never led by more than four. Their second loss in a row will surely knock them out of the polls next week.

"It definitely hurts," said junior forward Chace Stanback, who led UNLV with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Stanback shot 3-for-10 from 3-point range and missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 36 seconds left.

The Rebels were ragged for most of the game, shooting a season-low 29 percent from the field, including 6-for-29 (20.7 percent) on 3s, and committing 17 turnovers.

"We shot it very poorly. When you're not making shots, a lot of things are glaring," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "You dig that hole early and then you're chasing to catch up."

Nunnally's 3-pointer put UCSB up 48-39 with 14:24 left, and the Rebels did not make a serious charge until Tre'Von Willis hit a 3 from the right corner to close the gap to 56-49 with seven minutes remaining.

Oscar Bellfield's 3 from the left corner pulled UNLV within 56-52, and Willis' two free throws cut the deficit to 58-57 with 2:44 to go.

But the Gauchos quieted the crowd of 11,490 on Jaime Serna's 17-foot jumper with 1:41 left, and after Bellfield missed a short jumper, Nunnally made two free throws to extend the lead to 64-57.

"It's not that we were forcing 3s. They were open looks, but we just didn't knock them down" Bellfield said. "Maybe our energy level wasn't as high as usual."

UCSB used a combination of zone defenses to confuse the Rebels in the first half. But with Quintrell Thomas and Derrick Jasper converting consecutive three-point plays, UNLV put together a 12-0 run to tie it at 30 at halftime.

Nunnally, a 6-foot-6-inch forward who came in averaging 21.9 points per game, scored nine points during the Gauchos' 18-9 surge to open the second half.

"Our zone is definitely a key. It wears on people, kind of like Chinese water torture," said Nunnally, who shot 7-for-12 from the field, 6-for-6 at the line and had seven rebounds.

Orlando Johnson finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds for UCSB (5-3), the preseason favorite to win the Big West Conference.

The Gauchos were far from flawless while turning it over 25 times and allowing the Rebels to pull down 24 offensive rebounds.

But UNLV missed 14 free throws (20 of 34) and misfired repeatedly from long range.

"It took us awhile to figure out their defense," Stanback said. "We just weren't knocking down our open looks, and that's what you've got to do against a zone."

Willis had 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals in his first start of the season. But the senior guard missed all but one of his seven 3-point attempts and said he held himself accountable.

"It was not knocking down shots, careless turnovers and we didn't outfight them for 40 minutes," Willis said. "We're not happy with it."

UCSB, which won its third straight against UNLV, continues its Mountain West Conference road trip at No. 11 San Diego State (11-0) on Saturday.

The Rebels, who fell at Louisville on Saturday, face the harsh reality of a two-game slide.

"Losing at home," Kruger said, "feels even worse."

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