UNLV 27, Baylor 24

WACO, Texas - Kevin Thomas returned a fumble 99 yards on the final play of the game Saturday night to give UNLV a 27-24 victory over Baylor.

Leading 24-21, Baylor had a first down at the UNLV 8 with less than 20 seconds left and UNLV out of timeouts.

A knee to the turf after the snap could have won the game for the Bears. But Darrel Bush, whose 9-yard TD run with 6:06 to go had given Baylor (0-2) the lead, took a handoff and tried to score again.

Linebacker James Sunia forced the fumble at the 1 and Thomas picked up the ball 1 yard deep in the end zone. Then he scampered down the left sideline untouched, racing past a jubilant UNLV bench as 32,272 fans stood stunned and dazed Baylor players were left kneeling on the field, some of them with their heads buried in the turf.

Thomas officially was credited with a 99-yard return. There was no extra point.

The victory for UNLV (2-0) under new coach John Robinson was its first ever against a Big 12 opponent. The loss denied new Baylor coach Kevin Steele his first win.

The Rebels, who last week snapped a 16-game losing streak and a 26-game road losing streak with a victory at North Texas, got a pair of touchdown passes from Jason Vaughan to Nate Turner.

Vaughan finished 17-of-27 for 192 yards. Five of the completions went to Turner, who wound up with 85 yards receiving.

It's the first time the Rebels have won two non-conference games on the road in a season since 1982.

Jermaine Alfred threw for one touchdown and ran for a second for Baylor, which lost its eighth straight.

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