Las Vegas Tripleheader 2nd Game: UNLV Drops First Game Of Season, 75-73, To San Francisco With Weak Finish Saturday; Attendance: 6,446
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
They tried to lure the Las Vegas basketball faithful to Thomas & Mack Center with chicken fingers as part of a four-ticket, $52 promotion in hopes of enticing UNLV fans to watch the 10-0 Runnin’ Rebels host a formidable San Francisco Dons squad Satrday.
Only two miles away, the Las Vegas Bowl was being played at Allegiant Stadium for an 11:30 AM start. The Rebs’ tip-off with USF was for 2 PM.
UNLV is competing in a rough-and-tumble sports market with new pro teams like the NBA G League Ignite in Henderson and the Las Vegas Desert Dogs lacrosse team at Mandalay Bay launching their products at similar price points in the past few months. And the XFL Vipers come on line in Las Vegas in the eight-team minor league football operation (though it’s still unclear where the Vipers will actually play.)
UNLV, which hasn’t played in a week since defeating Washington State in “The Clash” hoops event at MGM Grand Garden Arena, played an upbeat first half, nailing three-pointers and playing its reputed tough defense to lead 46-37 at the half in a spirited opening 20 minutes.
But the Runnin’ Rebels failed to close the deal and lock up their 11th win.
UNLV’s offense wilted down the stretch and the Rebs blew a lead, opening the door to a USF Dons’ win over a previously unbeaten team.
San Francisco went ahead on a three-point shot to knock UNLV out of the unbeatens column, 75-73.
UNLV had the gym rocking in the first half with its 46 points, but followed that up with only 27 points in the second half to lose by two at the finish line. San Francisco scored 37 points in the first half to trail by nine at the break and finished the second half with 38 points to polish off UNLV by a deuce.
Elijah Harkless led the Rebs with 21 points, while Luis Rodriguez contributed 17 against the much taller USF lineup. UNLV is 10-1 and USF, which lost to New Mexico here in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Monday, improved to 10-3.
