Cal vs. UNLV: Rebels Shut Down the Golden Bears of California

The 21st-ranked UNLV Runnin’ Rebels fired multiple shots from behind the arc Friday, beating California 85-68. 

UNLV has clicked lately, becoming a half-court threat for any team that steps onto the boards to face them. 

First, the previous No. 1 North Carolina squad was shutdown last month, and then the Rebels beat No. 19 Illinois in Chicago last Saturday. 

Anthony Marshall had nine rebounds and 22 points to lead UNLV.  Chace Stanback also contributed 15 points, while Mike Moser put in 14 points and snagged eight rebounds.

The Rebels have now won all eight games at their home court and 11 overall in Las Vegas. 

Oscar Bellfield contributed to the big win, scoring 11 points and 11 assists, helping to nudge UNLV’s shooting percentage to 49 from the field.  He also had half of the team's 22 assists. 

As the Rebels got the momentum swinging in their favor, they built up a 20-point lead at the half.

UNLV opened up the second half by firing off consecutive three-point shots en route to their biggest lead of the game (72-45) with just under nine minutes to play.

However, the Golden Bears crept their way back in, cutting the lead to 13 points multiple times in the final moments of the game, but could not find a way to pull even with UNLV before the final buzzer sounded. 

In the first half of the matchup, the Golden Bears led, but UNLV came together and took the lead with a three-pointer by Moser, and did not relinquish the lead after that. 

The Rebels would then go on a 21-6 run after the Bears got within one point. 

Stanback finished off the impressive half with a three-point shot from the corner as the buzzer sounded. 

Bellfield had nine assists in the first half and shot 54 percent from the field.  The Rebels were also five-for-11 from three-point range. 

Justin Cobbs led the Bears with 20 points and five assists. 

The Golden Bears shot 32 percent from the field, but could only finish with 38 percent overall from the field. 

UNLV will now have three more games before they get into Mountain West Conference play at San Diego State on Jan. 14.