Ed Reinke / AP File (1990)
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewsik, center, offers his congratulations to UNLV players Stacey Augmon, left, and Larry Johnson, right, following the NCAA Final Four Championship game, April 2, 1990, in Denver, Colorado. The Rebels overwhelmed Duke with a 103-73 victory for the national title.
Friday, April 1, 2022 | 2 a.m.
The Final Four on Saturday will feature some of college basketball’s most notable brands in Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and Villanova.
UNLV is no longer in the national conversation, having last played in the Final Four in 1991 and having not been in the tournament field the past eight seasons.
Rebels in the Final Four
1977
Omni Coliseum, Atlanta
Champion: Marquette
UNLV lost 84-83 to North Carolina in the national semifinals, and then topped UNC Charlotte 104-96 in the third-place game. The NCAA eliminated the third-place game in 1981.
1987
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
Champion: Indiana
UNLV lost 97-93 to Indiana in the national semifinals.
1990
McNichols Sports Arena, Denver
Champion: UNLV
UNLV defeated Georgia Tech, 90-81, in the national semifinals and rolled over Duke 103-73 two nights later for their first national championship.
1991
Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis
Champion: Duke
Duke denied UNLV back-to-back championships with a 79-77 upset in the national semifinals. It was UNLV’s only loss of the season.
But the Rebels’ place in Final Four history is undeniable, as they played in the event four times, including three times in five years starting in 1987.
Those trips produced many records, many of which still stand. Here’s a look at those numbers:
30: Largest margin of victory in the national championship game courtesy of UNLV’s 103-73 drumming of Duke in 1990.
103: Those 103 points on April 2, 1990, in Denver are the most in championship game history. UNLV is the only school to score in triple digits in the title game.
16: Steals by UNLV in its win over Duke, a Final Four best.
56: Points UNLV scored in the second half against Duke in the 1990 championship game, which is the second most points scored in a half in Final Four history.
67: The percentage of 3-point field goals UNLV made in the national semifinals against Georgia Tech in 1990, making 10 of 15 attempts in a 90-81 victory. It’s still the best 3-point shooting night by percentage in Final Four history.
9: The percentage of 3-point field goals made by Duke in 1990, as it went 1 of 9 in the blowout defeat against UNLV. It’s the third-worst shooting percentage of 3-pointers.
1: Fewest free throws made in a Final Four game, as the Rebels went 1 of 5 in the 1977 loss to North Carolina in the semifinals.
5: The fewest free throws attempted, established in the same game.
24: Assists by UNLV against Duke, ranking second-best all-time in Final Four history.
23: Assists by UNLV against Indiana in the 1987 national semifinals, which is good enough for third all-time in the Final Four.
18: Assists by UNLV’s Mark Wade against Indiana in the 1987 Final Four, ranking first all-time for an individual player.
10: A Final Four record of 3-pointers made by UNLV’s Freddie Banks in the 1987 game against Indiana.
19: A record of 3-pointers attempted in the 1987 Final Four game against Indiana, also by UNLV’s Banks.
106: The third-most points scored in a Final Four game, as UNLV topped UNC Charlotte 106-94 in the third-place game in 1977.
83: A record combined field goals between UNLV and UNC Charlotte.
