Final: UNLV hammers the ball inside and wears down ISU for 82-70 victory

By Taylor Bern

Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012 | 4 p.m.

UNLV worked the ball inside all game and pulled out a sloppy 82-70 victory against Iowa State in the consolation game of the Global Sports Classic on Saturday in the Thomas & Mack Center. Anthony Bennett led UNLV with 22 points while Mike Moser chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The teams combined for 31 turnovers and Iowa State shot less than 35 percent from the field. The Cyclones were able to hang in the game mostly because of their stellar work on the offensive glass. They had 24 offensive rebounds and turned that into 22 second-chance points.

UNLV’s final run came when it finally kept ISU off the boards and instead converted those rebounds into run outs the other way. ISU’s Will Clyburn, who played on season at Utah, led the Cyclones with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

UNLV’s Anthony Marshall had 16 points and eight rebounds and freshman Savon Goodman provided a big lift in the first half, contributing eight points, two steals and a block.

The Rebels attempted only 10 3-pointers (they made four), which was a far cry from the 30 they attempted last night against Oregon. UNLV returns to action at home Wednesday night at 7 against UCI.

Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from this game.

Halftime: Rebels putting extra emphasis on feeding the ball into the post

Freshman Savon Goodman provided a spark off the bench, scoring eight points as UNLV made a concerted effort to feed the ball inside against Iowa State. At halftime the Rebels lead 36-34.

The lead could be even bigger but they’re having a hard time guarding against dribble penetration. The Iowa State guards are making one move at the perimeter and making it all the way to the rim before anyone steps over to help. With an adjustment in that area, UNLV could lead by double digits.

UNLV has attempted only five 3-pointers, making two, and on another Anthony Bennett was fouled. He’s got 10 points and Mike Moser has eight, the benefactors of the Rebels’ insistence on getting the ball inside.

Iowa State has 13 offensive rebounds but it’s just 2-for-8 on 3s and has committed eight turnovers. UNLV has nine turnovers and six blocks.

Though it’s only come in spurts, UNLV has clearly played like the more motivated team. Iowa State is listless and very sloppy. If the Rebels start the second half with a solid run it could be enough to put this game away for good.

Pregame blog: Against Iowa State, UNLV attempts to bounce back from first loss

Against Northern Arizona we saw, sort of, how No. 18 UNLV bounces back from adversity. In an exhibition game, the Rebels needed overtime to fend off Dixie State, then in the opener against the Lumberjacks they came out on fire and dominated the game. All in all, it was a positive sign for the team, though not that informative.

Today will tell us a lot more about how well this team can bounce back, as UNLV takes the court against Iowa State at 5 p.m., about 20 hours after losing, 83-79, to Oregon on Friday night.

That loss was a mess for UNLV. It went more than eight minutes in the first half without a field goal and committed a total of 18 turnovers. Combine that with an 8-for-30 shooting night behind the three-point line and it’s a wonder the Rebels were in the game at all.

Now they have to turn around and try to shake that off before getting on the court again against a team that can do damage. Iowa State also had a poor showing in its 78-70 loss to No. 22 Cincinnati earlier Friday, but the Cyclones are an experienced team that may be better suited for the quick turnaround.

They start four seniors and a junior, and they rely on seniors off the bench, too. Many of them are transfers, so it’s not as if these guys have been playing together for four years, but they’re still more accustomed to the emotional ups and downs of college basketball than are UNLV’s fresh faces such as Anthony Bennett and Katin Reinhardt.

As both the hosts and the highest-ranked team in the Global Sports Classic field, UNLV is disappointed with how this has played out thus far. The important thing as far as the rest of the season is concerned is how they respond to that disappointment.

THE OTHER SIDE

Iowa State projected lineup

G — Korie Lucious, 5-11, Sr, 8 ppg, 29.8 FG%, 1.09 Ast-TO ratio

G — Chris Babb, 6-5, Sr, 7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6 Ast-TO ratio

G — Will Clyburn, 6-7, Sr, 13.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 23.5 3FG%

F — Anthony Booker, 6-9, Sr, 7 ppg, 5 rpg, 16.4 mpg

F — Melvin Ejim, 6-6, Jr, 10.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 54 FG%

Sixth man — G, Tyrus McGee, 6-2, Sr, 15.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, nine steals

Best name: Bubu Palo, 6-1, Jr, G

Extra storyline: Ejim and reserve Naz Long played on the same AAU team, CIA Bounce, as UNLV's Bennett. Several CIA Bounce coaches are in town for the tournament.

Useless Wikipedia factoid: Iowa State is the birthplace of the first electronic digital computer, and it also played a large role in the atomic bomb development as part of the Manhattan Project.

Kenpom line: UNLV -7

Vegas line: UNLV -9.5

Bern’s take: Iowa State did not look great against Cincinnati, but much like UNLV the Cyclones found a way to keep it close. Obviously their guards need to shoot better — Lucious and Clyburn were a combined 6-for-26 — and athletically they’re in some trouble. With both teams on short rest, I’ll side with the home team. This may be some really ugly basketball. UNLV 79, Iowa State 71.

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