Live blog: Rebels survive UC Santa Barbara challenge, prevail 94-88 in double overtime

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 | 6 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 | 9:19 p.m.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UNLV basketball team led by eight points with less than two minutes to play Wednesday against host UC Santa Barbara, but needed two overtimes to outlast the Gauchos, 94-88.

Chace Stanback’s 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in the first overtime evened the score at 84-all and forced a second overtime. Stanback’s 3-point play with about three minutes to play in the game gave UNLV the lead for good at 88-84.

Mike Moser couldn’t miss in the second half for UNLV. Turns out, the Rebels needed each of his career-high 34 points.

Moser had 25 second-half points, draining a 3-pointer with about two minutes to play to give the Rebels an eight-point lead. But Santa Barbara came storming back to even the game at 71-all on an offensive rebound and layup at the regulation buzzer.

Santa Barbara led 84-81 with about 10 seconds play in the first overtime when James Nunnally drained three fouls shots after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.

Anthony Marshall missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game on UNLV’s possession, but Stanback grabbed the rebound and forced a second overtime with a fade-away 3-pointer.

Stanback struggled early but had 12 points in both the overtimes. Marshall added 13 points for the Rebels and Oscar Bellfield had 11.

It was their eighth straight win to open the season, coming on the heels of knocking off then top-ranked North Carolina.

Check back later for more on this game.

Clutch 3-pointer from Chace Stanback helps UNLV force second overtime

Chace Stanback’s 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining in overtime evened the score at 84-all for the UNLV basketball team and forced a second overtime against host UC Santa Barbara.

UNLV led by eight points with less than two minutes to play in regulation, but allowed Santa Barbara to rally and tie the score at 71-all.

In overtime, Stanback fouled UCSB’s James Nunnally on a 3-point attempt and Nunnally hit three fouls shots to give the Gauchos an 84-81 lead with about 10 seconds to play.

After Anthony Marshall missed a 3-point attempt with time expiring, Stanback grabbed the offensive rebounds and buried the fade-away 3-pointer to force another five minutes of action.

It’s been back and forth all night — easily one of the best games I’ve attended.

Rebels blow 10-point lead in final two minutes, taken to overtime by Santa Barbara

The UNLV basketball team has blown a 10-point lead in the final two minutes Wednesday against host UC Santa Barbara, allowing the Gauchos to force overtime.

UNLV was limited to two points down the stretch, with Santa Barbara rallying to event the score at 71-all.

Mike Moser has 25 second-half points for the Rebels for a career-high 36, but it could come in a losing effort.

USCB clearly has the momentum after erasing the late deficit.

Rebels continue to hold small lead against Santa Barbara, Moser with 28 points

Mike Moser continues to be the UNLV basketball team’s best player.

The sophomore transfer from UCLA has a game-high 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting Wednesday in helping the Rebels lead host UC Santa Barbara, 53-49, with 7:50 to play.

Moser, who opened the second half with 11 straight points, has drained consecutive 3-pointers to give UNLV a little breathing room against a tough Gauchos’ squad. Carlos Lopez has also had a solid second half, completing a 3-point play and making a tough layup in transition.

Rebels’ coach Dave Rice is sticking with seven players for tonight’s game, with post player Quintrell Thomas yet to play.

Mike Moser makes five straight buckets to help UNLV open a 40-34 second half lead

Mike Moser made five straight baskets for the UNLV basketball team to open the second half Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara, helping the Rebels erase a one-point halftime deficit and lead 40-34 with 15:41 to play.

It’s the second straight game the Rebels have dominated to open the second half. In the 90-80 victory against North Carolina last week, UNLV scored 14 unanswered points to open the half and never trailed the rest of the game.

Moser’s outburst included a rebound and dunk on a missed shot, and a 3-pointer to help UNLV grow its lead to a game-high six points.

Chace Stanback has added a basket for UNLV in breaking a 0-for-7 start to the game.

Folks, it’s getting pretty wild here. Should make for an exciting second half.

Rebels trim seven-point deficit, only trail 28-27 at halftime against UCSB

It could have been worse.

The UNLV basketball team is trailing host UC Santa Barbara 28-27 at halftime Wednesday, erasing a seven-point deficit in the final three minutes of the half.

The Rebels have been downright awful with their 3-point shooting, missing 11 straight attempts before Kendall Wallace connected from the corner late in the half to trim the UNLV deficit to two points.

Orlando Johnson, the Gauchos senior forward and a NBA prospect, has been the best player on the court in scoring 11 points. UCSB has maintained a lead thanks to its 3-point shooting, making 5-of-10 attempts.

UNLV has won its first seven games of the season, but this is the Rebels’ first road contest. Chace Stanback, who had 28 points last week in the Rebels upset of then top-ranked North Carolina, is scoreless after missing all six of his field goal attempts.

Mike Moser is leading the Rebels with 11 points and Oscar Bellfield has six points.

Rebels trail hot-shooting USCB 21-20 with eight minutes to play in first half

The UNLV basketball team’s game against UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday is following a similar script to last year’s contest.

The Rebels are struggling from the outside against the Gauchos’ zone defense, and UCSB can’t miss from the outside in leading 21-20 with 7:40 to play in the first half.

UCSB, which made 10-of-19 of its 3-pointers last year in beating UNLV 68-62, has already connected on 4-of-8 from the 3-point line. Meanwhile, UNLV made its first 3-pointer of the game, and has missed its last seven attempts.

Orlando Johnson, the Gauchos’ top player and a NBA prospect, already has eight points and can seemingly score at will.

Mike Moser leads UNLV with a game-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, while Anthony Marshall has five points and two assists.

Rebels erase early four-point deficit, lead UCSB 8-7

If the initial five minutes are any indication, the UNLV basketball team will have its hands full Wednesday night at host UC Santa Barbara in the first road game of the season.

The Rebels fell behind by four points early, but have rallied to take an 8-7 lead on a 3-point play from Anthony Marshall. Mike Moser has the Rebels’ other five points, including a 3-pointer on the Rebels’ first possession.

Moser has been UNLV’s most active player, also taking a charge on the decisive end.

The UCSB student section has been vocal and on its feet from the opening tip, creating a true home court advantage. UNLV fans have also traveled well with easily 200 supporters wearing Rebel red in the crowd.

Rebels to face big-time test in first road game of season

There won’t be a Tortilla Technical during tonight’s UNLV basketball game at UC Santa Barbara.

The ritual of students throwing tortillas onto the court at the Thunderdome after USCB’s first basket of the game was one of the most unique traditions in college athletics but always resulted in a technical foul.

The ‘Tortilla Technical’ practice was stopped a few years back after part of a tortilla got into an ESPN television camera and the school had to pay for a replacement. But during the 1990s, when the Rebels and Gauchos were each in the Big West Conference, flying tortillas flooding the court was part of the pageantry of playing at the 5,600-seat Thunderdome.

The Santa Barbara students won’t need much motivation for tonight’s game, which is the Rebels’ first game of the season outside of Las Vegas.

UNLV (7-0) has a gigantic target on its back after beating then top-ranked North Carolina 90-80 Saturday, vaulting the Rebels to a No. 18 national ranking. With USCB (4-1) winning the last four meetings against UNLV, expect a vocal student section hoping to do its part to get Santa Barbara some national attention.

Last year, the Gauchos frustrated UNLV with their zone defense, forcing the Rebels to settle for bad looks from the outside in shooting 29 percent. Santa Barbara has outscored opponents by an average of 18.6 points per game this year, using contributions from their big guns — senior forwards Orlando Johnson and James Nunnally. The duo combined for 39 points in last year’s game and present significant matchup problems for the Rebels.

Don’t expect the entire Thunderdome to be packed with Santa Barbara fans. Three hours before tipoff, a car of UNLV fans pulled into the parking lot. They won’t be the only ones.

Brewer’s prediction: All signs point to the Rebels struggling tonight, but I’m not buying into it. I think the Rebels win in convincing fashion — by at least 15 points. I know this is their first game outside Las Vegas. I know they’ve struggled with Santa Barbara. And I know they could experience a letdown after the North Carolina win. I just think this group won’t fall into any of those traps.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.