Jan. 18, 2000

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Kaspars Kambala, unstoppable inside, had career highs of 32 points and 18 rebounds Monday to lead UNLV to an 85-73 win over New Mexico.

New Mexico, which lost at home for the sixth time this season, had nobody capable of containing the 6-foot-9, 250-pound UNLV center from Latvia. Kambala hit 12 of 20 shots, most of them layups, and led the Rebels to a 54-41 advantage on the boards.

UNLV (11-4, 2-1 Mountain West) used a 10-0 run early in the first half to take a 12-5 lead and never trailed after that. Through most of the first half, Kambala overpowered the Lobos' smaller frontline, and UNLV point guard Mark Dickel connected on outside jumpers.

New Mexico, with a 13-2 run late in the first half, tied it at 36, but Dickel and Kambala scored back-to-back baskets for a 40-36 halftime lead for the Rebels.

New Mexico (9-9, 1-2 MWC) got its late first-half run rolling behind freshman point guard Marlon Parmer. Parmer scored 5 points and had three assists in that stretch.

UNLV took control again in the first five minutes of the second half.

With Kambala scoring 5 points and Dalron Johnson 7, the Rebels steadily pulled away. A 3-pointer by Dickel put UNLV ahead 62-53 with 11:56 remaining.

Kambala with 16 points and Dickel with 12 carried the UNLV offense in the first half. Dickel finished with 16 points and nine assists.

New Mexico was led by Wayland White with 13 points. Damion Walker, Lamont Long and Kevin Henry each scored 12. The Lobos lost despite tying a school record with 12 blocks, seven of them by White.