Runnin' Rebels-Aztecs: UNLV Loses Regular Season Finale to San Diego State

The 2008-9 regular season for the Mountain West Conference ended on a losing note for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, as they lost their second straight 46-point effort to the San Diego State Aztecs 57-46 before a sellout Senior Night crowd at the Cox Center.

The Aztecs have now swept the season series from UNLV and have established themselves as the four-seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament beginning next Wednesday in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center.

The Rebels have won this tournament for the last two years as a visiting team and hope for a three-peat, which would vault them into the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.

After attending Wednesday's lackluster performance against the Air Force Academy, I knew the Rebels had to come out blazing to beat the Aztecs on their home floor. Not only didn't they do that, but as the game continued, it became very obvious that UNLV's lack of a big presence in the middle will make their attempt at another championship a long shot at best.

Senior Kyle Spain led the way for the Aztecs with 16 points and was the team leader on the court. Up to the point when Kyle scored two consecutive threes, the Aztecs seemed to be playing even sloppier than the Rebels. They had 20 turnovers and the Rebels scored 12 points off of them, keeping the game close.

Tre'von Willis and Rene Rougeau led the way for the Rebels with 16 points each, but Wink Adams was ineffective throughout the game.

For coach Lon Kruger, he understands clearly that not only was this a disturbing loss, but he also has very little time to make the necessary changes to turn the fortunes of this Rebels team around. The main problem, as I see it, is personnel. His four leading scorers are all shooting under 40 percent from the floor, and although they play tenacious defense, their lack of height will most likely do them in.

In the best-case scenario, if the Rebels can get by San Diego State, their next game more likely than not would be against BYU, and the Rebels have taken out the Cougars twice already this season.

Utah looks now like the favorite to reach the finals in their half of the bracket, but I think New Mexico—who I said in early January, after the Rebels beat them in their conference opener at home, would be a force to be reckoned with—could take out Utah and reach the finals against UNLV.

Maybe, but I seriously doubt it. I hope lightning can strike for a third time in the same spot.