Blog: Rebels’ season ends with OT loss to SDSU

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, March 8, 2017 | 2 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 8, 2017 | 6:26 p.m.

UNLV was held to two points in overtime, and San Diego State pulled away for a 62-52 victory in the play-in round of the Mountain West tournament.

The Rebels played the OT period (and the final five minutes of regulation) without Jovan Mooring, and the offense suffered mightily for it. UNLV went 1-of-4 in overtime and committed four turnovers.

UNLV finishes the season 11-21 and 4-15 in Mountain West play.

Check back for more of The Sun's post-game coverage after the press conferences.

UNLV, San Diego State head to overtime

Christian Jones made 1-of-2 free throws with 10 seconds remaining to tie the game, and San Diego State came up empty on its final possession, so we're heading to overtime knotted at 50-50.

The Rebels gave away a 21-point lead in the second half and trailed by four down the stretch, but they did manage to hold SDSU scoreless over the final 3:37, so there is some defensive momentum as we go to the extra period.

Jovan Mooring has fouled out, so it's going to be difficult for UNLV to generate points in overtime. Can the defense continue stifling San Diego State for five more minutes?

Rebels trail SDSU late

With 3:37 remaining, San Diego State has a 3:37 lead and will shoot two free throws after the media timeout.

Things look dire for the Rebels, who have blown a 21-point lead and are now without their best player, as Jovan Mooring fouled out with 5:10 remaining. UNLV has scored just 14 points in the second half (4-of-19 FGs), so Mooring's absence presents a huge obstacle for a Rebels team still fighting for an upset win.

Jalen Poyser is running the point for now, but he's not the same kind of playmaker that Mooring is. The Rebels usually run all of their offense through Mooring in late-game situations, so it could be up to Poyser now to make something happen for UNLV.

San Diego State storms back to take 41-40 lead

The Rebels' offense has collapsed completely in the second half, and San Diego State has improbably surged back to take a 41-40 lead with 7:40 to play.

UNLV has scored just eight points since halftime (3-of-16 FGs), including one scoring drought of 5:45, and San Diego State has used runs of 11-0 and 14-0 to storm back from the dead.

Kris Clyburn will head to the free-throw line after the media timeout to try to stop the bleeding for now, but UNLV is going to have a real fight on its hands over the final eight minutes.

Rebels' lead trimmed to 40-34

San Diego State is making its run, and the Rebels are complying by going into one of their patented scoring droughts, and now UNLV's lead is down to 40-34 with 11:15 to play.

UNLV went 5:45 without scoring a point, and San Diego State went on a 14-0 run to cut the Rebels' lead to single digits. The Aztecs are applying full-court pressure and having success, while UNLV has committed foolish turnovers and missed some easy shots.

Marvin Menzies has also had to burn two timeouts already, leaving the Rebels with just one remaining for the final 11 minutes. Buckle up, this game is probably going to get closer before a winner is decided.

UNLV leads San Diego State by 18 at half

UNLV just played its best half of the season, and the Rebels have gone into the locker room with a 32-14 lead over San Diego State.

Jovan Mooring did most of the offensive work in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 15 points, but the story so far has been the Rebels' defense. Marvin Menzies has elected to play man defense, and so far it's been giving SDSU fits. The Aztecs made just four field goals in the first half (4-of-27) and looked unprepared for the Rebels' ball pressure, committing 11 turnovers.

Energy will be key for UNLV in the second half. The Rebels expended a lot of it over the first 20 minutes, and some guys are going to be asked to play more than 35 minutes today, so maintaining their defensive intensity will be a challenge.

Still, the first half went as well as it could have for UNLV, and Menzies has to feel confident about his chances of closing it out. He has a career record of 4-2 when facing higher seeds in conference tournament games, and he'll try to add to that resume by guiding the Rebels home today.

Rebels jump out to big lead

I don't know what's gotten into the Rebels today, but they've got a 24-10 lead and all the momentum right now.

UNLV has done it with defense, as they've held San Diego State to 3-of-19 shooting (15.8 percent) while forcing a ridiculous 10 turnovers. Jalen Poyser just made back-to-back steals, the second of which led to a breakaway layup for Jovan Mooring and a timeout call by Steve Fisher.

Mooring now has 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and with 3:59 left in the half, the next task for the Rebels will be getting into the locker room without giving away too much of this lead.

Mooring hitting early for upset-minded Rebels

Jovan Mooring just pulled up and nailed a long 3 from the top of the key to give UNLV a 13-8 lead, and with 11:25 remaining in the first half, an audible "Rebels" chant actually broke out at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Mooring is doing everything in his power to give UNLV a chance at the upset today. He's already got nine points (3-of-5 FGs), an assist and a charge taken.

UNLV's defense has also looked spry, with tight man-to-man looks putting pressure on San Diego State. The Aztecs have already committed eight turnovers.

Rebels even with SDSU early

Are we in store for a little madness today?

It's too early to start calling upset, but four minutes into this game, UNLV and San Diego State are tied, 4-4. UNLV came out in a man-to-man defense and have already forced two turnovers. Both of San Diego State's field goals have come off offensive rebounds, so the Rebels are going to have to shore up the defensive glass.

In win-or-go-home tournament situations, coaches like to break the game down into four-minute segments, and right now UNLV is giving itself a chance. Let's see how long the Rebels can keep up.

Baxter could provide spark against San Diego State

UNLV’s already treacherous path to a Mountain West tournament win got a little more difficult with Tuesday’s revelation that senior forward Tyrell Green will likely miss today’s game against San Diego State due to a knee injury.

Green had regained his starting spot in recent weeks, but he tweaked his knee in the second half of the regular-season finale at Fresno State and did not return. Before Tuesday’s practice, coach Marvin Menzies said Green would sit out the session and that it was unlikely he would suit up against San Diego State.

If indeed Green can’t go, it will be a blow to the Rebels’ already weak offensive attack. Green was UNLV’s second-leading scorer this season (11.7 points per game), and he was also the team’s second-best 3-point shooter (34.1 percent). Without Green to stretch the floor, San Diego State’s tough defense will have an even greater advantage today.

Menzies mentioned a trio of freshmen who would be likely to pick up additional minutes in Green’s absence, with big man Cheickna Dembele the choice to start at center and swingman Ben Coupet looking at a bigger role off the bench. But the most intriguing option is Troy Baxter, the high-flying forward who returned from injury against Fresno State and made a loud statement for more playing time.

After Green went down, Baxter played the final 10 minutes and posted six points, two blocks and one rebound, and UNLV outscored Fresno State by six points with Baxter on the floor.

The most impressive aspect of Baxter’s performance was his finishing ability. He converted one layup where the defense forced him to switch hands and make a lefty scoop shot, and he threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk. For a UNLV team that has struggled to score around the basket this year, Baxter’s above-the-rim talent could provide a spark.

Check back before game time and during today's game for more updates.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.