Blog: Four Rebels scored in double figures as UNLV outpaced Colorado State 82-63

By Taylor Bern

Published Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 | 6 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 | 9:31 p.m.

Oscar Bellfield and Chace Stanback each scored 16 points, leading four Rebels who scored in double figures as No. 11 UNLV secured a 82-63 victory against Colorado State on Wednesday night. UNLV's other leading scorers included 13 points apiece from Mike Moser and Anthony Marshall.

UNLV trailed by as much as seven points in the first half, but a 36-16 run to close the half put the Rebels in good position at halftime. However, the Rams actually came out with an 11-0 run to start the second half that brought the game back within reach. But playing in front of its home crowd, UNLV responded with an 11-0 run of its own and then kept the Rams at an arm's length for the rest of the way.

The Rebels shot 50 percent from the field and held Colorado State, one of the best shooting teams in the country, to 41 percent from the field. UNLV also excelled in coach Dave Rice's favorite stat, dishing out 24 assists on 30 made baskets.

It wasn't always pretty but it was always entertaining as UNLV moved to 21-3 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain West. The Rebels travel to Wyoming on Saturday.

Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for full coverage of tonight's game.

UNLV leads Colorado State 63-52 with 7:53 remaining in the game

After trading 11-0 runs to open the second half, UNLV has taken control of the game with a 63-52 lead with 7:53 remaining. Mike Moser and Oscar Bellfield each have 13 points and four Rebels have at least five rebounds.

The Rebels are shooting 49 percent and they've been able to answer every Colorado State run because the pace has always favored the Rebel' quick pace. Colorado State isn't out of it, but it needs at least another run and the Rams have to hope that UNLV really cools off down the stretch.

Colorado State pulls within 52-46 against UNLV early in the second half

Colorado State has done what few UNLV opponents have been able to accomplish this year: win the first four minutes of the second half. Despite a strong Rebels run to close the half, the Rams came out firing and brought the deficit to 52-46.

They will need to sustain this kind of performance to keep up with the Rebels, but if the opening minutes are any indication then it won't be a complete rout.

UNLV storms past Colorado State with a 13-point halftime lead

After falling down 19-12, UNLV outscored Colorado State 36-16 the rest of the way and went into halftime with a 48-35 lead. Mike Moser has 13 points while Oscar Bellfield has 10 points and three assists. As a team, UNLV shot 59 percent from the field and 54 percent behind the three-point line.

Moser and junior guard Anthony Marshall both picked up a pair of fouls pretty early in the first half, but both then managed to keep from picking up any more during their limited time on the court and the rest of the Rebels picked up the slack.

Chace Stanback has seven points and three rebounds and Quintrell Thomas has seven points in 10 minutes.

Colorado State is shooting 48 percent from the field, but its defense hasn't been able to handle the Rebels' pace. Now that the Rams are down double-digits, they have little choice but to play fast in the second half, which only plays further into UNLV's advantage.

Rebels responds to Rams' charge and reclaim the lead, 22-19, in the first half

Reggie Smith buried a deep 3-pointer that snapped UNLV's offensive funk and gave the Rebels a 22-19 lead with 7:55 left in the first half. UNLV has been limited by the fact that both Mike Moser and Anthony Marshall have two fouls.

Colorado State weathered the early storm and actually countered with a couple of big runs that gave them a seven-point lead with about 13 minutes to go in the half. But despite some frustrating misses, which include several layups off of offensive rebounds, the Rebels rallied and reclaimed the lead.

Marshall's foul trouble could mean more minutes for Smith, but Moser is the primary concern. The Rebels are already thin at forward with Carlos Lopez out because of a sprained ankle and they can't afford to be without Moser for a significant amount of the second half.

If the Rebels make it to halftime with both of those guys still carrying just two fouls, it will be considered a success.

UNLV opens up against Colorado State with an 11-10 lead

UNLV's Mike Moser started the scoring with a 3-pointer and the Rebels look locked in early, taking an 11-10 lead with 15:52 left in the first half.

Moser has five points and Oscar Bellfield has four on 2-of-2 shooting. After falling down by five, the Rams responded with a couple of solid possessions and so far they are shooting 80 percent. Considering Colorado State is one of the best shooting teams in the country, that's not the start that UNLV wants to see. But at this point, the Rebels look like the aggressors.

UNLV basketball set to host hot-shooting Colorado State

After surviving two nail-biters on the road last week, the UNLV basketball team is happy to be home again tonight at 7:30 against Colorado State.

The Rebels will be a man down with sophomore forward Carlos Lopez still recovering from an ankle sprain, but the rest of the team will be chomping at the bit to get back in front of the home crowd. The Rams present a formidable challenge — they're one of the best shooting teams in the country — but so far this season the Rebels haven’t had much trouble in Las Vegas.

UNLV hasn’t won by less than 10 points since a 71-67 victory against Nevada, and it dispatched conference foes TCU and New Mexico by an average of 20 points two weeks ago.

Without Lopez, there’s some pressure on senior center Brice Massamba to avoid foul trouble that could put coach Dave Rice into an uncomfortable position. When Massamba fouled out at Air Force, Rice went with a smaller lineup that used senior small forward Chace Stanback at the center spot. Junior forward Quintrell Thomas will get some action in the first half, and if he’s having a good night then Rice will be more likely to use him down the stretch should Massamba run up the fouls.

Mike Moser, the reigning Mountain West player of the week, is averaging 16.8 points and 14 rebounds per game in conference play. It’s very unlikely that he can keep up that production through the 14-game conference slate, but there’s no reason to expect it to dip much tonight.

In fact, Rice said on Tuesday that the coaching staff has now started expecting 9-14 rebounds per night from Moser. That’s a ridiculous number to already have in your back pocket, but Moser continues to deliver the goods and without a double-team, Colorado State doesn’t have the inside presence to keep him off the glass.

Besides Moser, expect Stanback and junior guard Anthony Marshall to come out firing after an off week. Stanback has fallen behind Moser as the team’s leading scorer, but he’s a much better shooter at home. And Marshall will be trying to get back to the attacking style that had him leading the Rebels through the first three conference games.

Bern’s prediction: Colorado State coach Tim Miles sends out a single tweet during halftime of each of his games. I’m guessing that today’s won’t be at all celebratory. The Rebels have been cruising at home and they will do everything they can to avoid another down-to-the wire game. Add that with the motivation to avenge last year’s 15-point home loss to the Rams, and this one will be decided early in the second half. UNLV 88, Colorado State 72.

Honoring Charlie

To honor the passing of former UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour, the Rebels will have a moment of silence before the game and will wear C.S. patches on their jerseys.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.