Nov. 25, 2006

Final Stats

Michael Umeh paced four UNLV players in double figures with 20 points as UNLV improved to 4-1 on the season by defeating visiting USF 96-88 before 8,096 at the Thomas and Mack Center Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Manny Quezada paced USF with career high 25 points, while Antonio Kellogg added 17 for the Dons now 2-3 on the year. Alan Wiggins added 13 for the Dons and Armondo Surratt, who sat much of the second half with foul trouble added 12.

Wendell White added 19 Wink Adams 17 and Kevin Kruger, son of coach Lon Kruger, added 16 for the Running Rebels.

"We worked hard to get back into the game after a slow start," said coach Evans. "We had too many turnovers and gave them too many second chance points. I thought the offense improved in the second half. But in order to win, however, we must make our free-throws. Tonight we made just 56%.

"It was good to start getting players back. We are evolving as a team. This is going to be a good basketball team sooner than later."

It was a strange game in which USF shot 56% from the floor to 49% for UNLV despite starting the game ice cold. The difference was UNLV outrebounded USF 39-31 and made 22 of 34 free throws to 15 of 27 for USF.

The Dons started the game making just one of their first ten shots and trailed 19-6 with 9:58 remaining in the first half. The Dons then ran off 10 straight points to get to within three with seven minutes left in the half. UNLV then built the lead back up to 34-21 before the Dons ended the period on a 9-3 run to trail 37-30 at the break. USF would get no closer than five points at the start of the second half and although they stayed within reach the rest of the game could not get over the hump.

USF made 10 of its last 15 shots to end up shooting 44% for the half, while UNLV made 47% of its first half field goal attempts.

Saturday's game was the first in a series of five games that the Dons will play in the next eight days, including just one home game, Monday night against Northern Arizona. After hosting the 3-2 Lumberjacks, USF will then play at Pacific Wednesday and then play in the Lou Henson Classic at New Mexico State.

The tournament has a set format which will see the Dons take on 4-1 Southeastern Louisiana on Friday the 1st and then tournament host New Mexico State on Saturday the 2nd. USF then will continue on the road and play at Northern Arizona on the fifth before breaking for finals.

The Dons are slowly getting their players back into the lineup as Vince Polakovic and Danny Cavic made their season debuts for the Dons. Cavic, who started at the end of last season, has been hampered by a sprained ankle.