LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Two free throws by Luis Rodriguez with 12 seconds remaining in overtime gave UNLV a 69-67 triumph over Nevada-Reno on Saturday at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
It was the second Mountain West triumph this season over the Wolf Pack for the Rebels, who finished conference play at 7-11 and 18-12 overall.
Over the past two seasons, UNLV has won all four meetings with the Wolf Pack.
Rodriguez’s free throws gave UNLV a 69-66 lead. With 5.9 seconds left, Nevada’s Kenan Blackshear missed the second of two free throws on purpose. In a tie-up after the missed free throw, the Wolf Pack were awarded possession in a controversial call.
On the possession, though, Darrion Williams missed on a spinning layup as time ran out.
Jackie Johnson III led the Rebels in the overtime with seven points, including his second 3-pointer, a long one with 43 seconds left in the extra period that put UNLV up for good. Johnson’s second 3 set the stage for Rodriguez’s clutch free throws and the nail-biting finish.
“The guys are excited,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “They should be. They did everything in their power to get this win and deserved to finish the regular-season on a high note. We tried to get a good shot every possession today, and we tried to get a stop on each possession on defense.
“We didn’t run out and take any quick, hurried, contested or bad shots in transition and we were patient.”
EJ Harkless led the Rebels with 24 points and eight rebounds, but he fouled out with 52.8 seconds remaining in regulation.
Before fouling out, Harkless nailed a 3-pointer that tied the score 54-54. Jarod Lucas then followed for UNR with two free throws for a 56-54 lead.
The Rebels then tied the score when Rodriguez came up with a loose ball after a missed jumper by Blackshear and drove three-quarters of the court for a layup with 11.1 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime.
Blackshear missed a pair of jumpers in the final seconds of regulation for the Wolf Pack (12-6, 22-9), including a 3-pointer that led to a long rebound and Rodriguez’s clutch play on the basket that forced the overtime.
Lucas led the Wolf Pack with 23 points, including 6-for-11 shooting. Blackshear added 18, including 16 after intermission.
Rodriguez had 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Johnson added 12 points and Justin Webster had 10.
The loss was the first this season at home after 14 victories for UNR. And it also most likely ruined their chance for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. To get reach the postseason, the Wolf Pack probably have to win the Mountain West Tournament, which starts this week at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
Nevada coach Steve Alford told the Reno Gazette Journal that perhaps his team felt a little pressure, with the NCAA berth riding on the outcome.
“You’ve got to give UNLV credit,” he said. “They’re not playing for anything. The pressure was on us, and I think we had some of the guys feel that.
“You go through the season and you set yourself up for these opportunities, but also the pressure increases.”
