Feisty, Loud UNLV Basketball Crowd With Las Vegas’ Oldest Sports Fans Soak Up Big 62-58 Win Over Ranked San Diego State Tuesday; Runnin’ Rebels Improve To 19-10, 12-5 In Mountain West
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by RJ Forbus
The Las Vegas market boasted recent powerhouse sports events like Super Bowl 58 in February and the F1 road race in November. And there are new pro teams such as the volleyball Thrill, indoor lacrosse Desert Dogs and G League Ignite.
But Las Vegas’ oldest sports fans go to these games — UNLV basketball games, which brought the community together 30 and 40 years ago in much the same way the Vegas Golden Knights do today.
UNLV’s basketball team has not made the NCAA tournament in more than a decade, but this year’s team has impressive wins on its resume like victories over Creighton and New Mexico.
And now over San Diego State, 62-58, at Thomas and Mack Center Tuesday night. That’s five in a row for the Rebs and 10 out of the last 11.
The energetic, feisty and loud crowd screamed their lungs out in a rugged, rock fight between the Runnin’ Rebels and a ranked San Diego State squad that lost in the national championship game during last year’s March Madness.
The crowd was like a Las Vegas community meet-up, with this market’s oldest fans coming to the UNLV arena on campus to root their Rebels like it was decades ago.
The attendance was announced at 7,911.
UNLV dominated much of the first half, leading, 6-0, after the first break before blasting San Diego State for a 27-10 in the first 20 minutes.
But San Diego State countered, cutting into the Runnin’ Rebels lead and trailing only by five points at halftime, 33-28.
This year’s team has forged an identity of a team that plays tough defense with a physical edge, thanks to the brothers Kalib and Keylan Boone, Rob Whaley, Jr., Luis Rodriguez and point guard Dedan Thomas, Jr.
The crowd exploded when Thomas sank a three-point shot from beyond the arc to give the Runnin’ Rebels a 56-49 lead with about four minutes to go in regulation. It was a bruising Mountain West battle between teams that entered the game with identical 11-5 league records. This was a San Diego State team that lost to UConn in the NCAA national championship game, 76-59.
Thomas converted two foul shots and salted away the 62-58 win.
UNLV plays Nevada, Reno to wrap up the season.
And then the Mountain West Conference tournament awaits at the Thomas and Mack later this month.
