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Runnin’ Rebels string together massive late game run to stun Colorado State in Fort Collins.

UNLV closed the game on a 14-0 run over the last three minutes to steal what looked to be Colorado State’s first home win of the conference season. 

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Jovan Mooring came alive late, scoring 17 points in the Runnin’ Rebels road win.

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With 3:42 left in the game, things were looking dire for UNLV.  Colorado State’s Raquan Miller had just made a lay up to extend the Rams lead to 9, and the Rebels season seemed to be slipping away, as the team looked tired, and defeated in a hostile environment.  However, all that would change just twenty seconds later.

On the ensuing possession, UNLV’s senior leader, point guard Jordan Johnson, hit what might be his biggest shot of the season to date.  The three pointer cut the Rams lead to six and sparked a 14-0 run, that UNLV would use to close out the game, and hand the Rams another conference lose on their home court.

The dagger came with 29 seconds left, as UNLV’s slumping senior guard Jovan Mooring, hoisted up an off balance 3-pointer that connected and gave UNLV their first lead since the 16:57 mark of the second half.  Colorado State forward Nico Carvacho would miss a 3-point attempt to tie at the other end, and that would seal the victory for UNLV.

While this win was really big for a Rebels team that’s trying to reclaim their swagger from the non conference schedule, it still showed that this team has a ways to go if they want to compete with the likes of Nevada and Boise State.

They continued to struggle shooting the ball from 3-point range, hitting just 8 of 13 and often times looked lost on defense.  They were fortunate that they were facing a shorthanded Colorado State team.

Colorado State entered this game missing their best player, Prentiss Nixon, and their second best player, Nico Carvacho, was battling the flu and wasn’t even able to fully warm up for the game.  And even though he was sick, Cavacho was a force on the glass, finishing with 16 rebounds, and also successfully bottled up UNLV’s star freshman Brandon McCoy for big chunks of the game.

It was a valiant effort from the entire Rams team, but they just weren’t able to sustain it over the last three minutes, as the deeper UNLV team pulled out the win.

UNLV was led in scoring by Junior forward Shakur Juiston who finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds.

Colorado State was paced by guard JD Paige, who also tallied 19 points.

Up Next

The Rams travel to San Diego State on January 24th.

The Runnin’ Rebels travel to Fresno, to take on the Bulldogs on January 23rd.