UNLV Runnin' Rebels Lose a "Must Win" Game

At 7 feet and 2 inches senior center Luke Nevill has emerged as the single most powerful presence in the Mountain West Conference. For the past four years Nevill has been the centerpiece for the University of Utah's Runnin' Utes. Tonight against the UNLV Runnin' Rebels Nevill put an exclamation point as to why he should be the unanimous MVP of the conference for the '08-'09 season.

Tonight Nevill was virtually unstoppable. The last time these two "Runnin'" teams met in January at the Thomas and Mack, the Rebels held Nevill somewhat in check holding him to 14 points and harassing him all night long. The Rebels won by 10. As "they" say, "paybacks are a b***" and tonight Nevill and his Runnin Utes paid back the Rebels big time.

After a pretty close first half the Utes went on an 18-4 run and closed out the half with a 14 point lead. Nevill's total for the game, 35 minutes played, 19 points on 6-11 shooting, and a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line. Shak should shoot fouls like this guy. He also dominated the boards, as usual, pulling down 13 rebounds leading the Utes to a 36-21 rebound advantage. He also blocked three shots and I lost count to how many Rebel attempts inside the paint went astray as his 7'2" 265 lb frame intimidated his smaller counterparts.

With all that, plus a hostile crowd, the Rebels valiantly fought all the way back from a double digit deficit to close the gap to two points with under three minutes to play. It was too late. The Utes never lost their poise and pulled away for a 10 point win.

Rene Rougeau and Tre'Von Willis combined for 33 points, but once again the key to the Rebels defeat was their inability to score points on Utah's 20 turnovers. This has become a returning habit that has bit the Rebels in the past few games and if it continues for the next two games and into the Mountain West Tournament, it's the NIT for the Rebels post season play.

The Rebels need to win their remaining two games and needs San Diego State to lose their last two for the Rebels to get a number four seed in the tournament, where if they get that far, they will surely have a rubber game match with the Runnin' Utes and one more last shot at the "Monster in the Middle," Luke Nevill.