UNLV-CSU: Runnin' Rebels Roll By Rams

Tre'Von Willis led six Rebels to double digit scoring as they trounced the Colorado State Rams 89-70 in front of 13,529 fans at the Thomas and Mack Center.

This was the second "payback game" as the Rebels who lost to both CSU and TCU on their home courts rebounded with perhaps their most complete performance of the season.

Tre'Von scored a game high 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor along with five rebounds and six assists. Tre'Von admitted in the postgame show that both he and Wink Adams are not at 100% with nagging injuries—but he absolutely refused to be out of the line up.

Rene Rougeau added 14 while Oscar Bellfield and Joe Darger each had 13 and Mareceo Ruthledge drained four straight 3's as the Rebels—who were completely unselfish and shot just under 65% from the field in the first half—opened a 17-point lead at the break.

Wink Adams chipped in with 10 points but struggled from the foul line, only hitting 1-for-5. 

Marcus Walker led the way for the Rams with 18 points. The Rebels forced the Rams into 15 turnovers which resulted in 21 points for UNLV.

This was a game the Rebels knew they had to win. With 5 pivotal games left in the regular season, lets look at the remaining schedule for the top contenders and see who we think has the best chance to go dancing in March.

Utah leads the way in the Mountain West Conference standings with a 9-2 record. They have 5 remaining games—two at home against UNLV and TCU and three on the road at Colorado State, BYU, and New Mexico. My prediction 3-2, 12-4 in conference play—first place.

San Diego State, 8-3 in conference play with 5 games remaining have UNLV, BYU, and Colorado State at home and play at New Mexico and TCU. My prediction 3-2, 11-5 in conference play, second place.

New Mexico 7-3 has six games remaining. Three games at "The Pit" with San Diego State, Utah, and TCU and three on the road at BYU, Colorado State, and Wyoming. My prediction 3-3, 10-6 third place tie.

BYU is 7-3 in the conference with six games to play—three at home vs. New Mexico, Air Force, and Utah and three on the road at San Diego State, UNLV, and Wyoming. My prediction 3-3, 10-6 third place tie.

UNLV is 7-4 after tonight's win against Colorado State and has five remaining games. They have two at home—including the pivotal game against BYU next Saturday at the Thomas and Mack—and they end the season March 4 against the Air Force Academy.

They also have three extremely tough road games at Wyoming this Wednesday and dates with Utah and San Diego State—the only MWC teams to beat the Rebels on their home court.

I'm trying as hard as I can not to be biased, but I believe if the Rebels are to have a shot at the NCAA without winning the tournament they have to go at least 4-1 in these remaining five games and at least reach the Mountain West tournament championship game.

Win or lose that game and they should be in. Anything less probably won't get us there and I don't think for one minute that the seniors want to end their Rebels career playing in an absolutely meaningless NIT game.

My prediction is 3-2, 10-6 in the conference and a three-way tie for third place. That would give them the third or fourth seed in the tournament and three extremely tough opponents to win the title.

They have done it before—can they do it again?