Nov. 4, 2000

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Lance Rice threw three touchdowns in his first start as Utah beat UNLV 38-16 on Saturday, the Utes' first home victory this season.

Rice, a 21-year-old redshirt freshman, completed 13 of 21 passes for 157 yards without an interception as Utah (3-6, 2-3 Mountain West) produced its highest scoring output of the season.

Rice is the grandson of Robert L. Rice, a university benefactor whose name adorns Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Adam Tate added 108 rushing yards as Utah won its fifth straight against the Rebels (4-5, 2-3) and averted its first winless season at home since 1954.

UNLV didn't have injured quarterback Jason Thomas, out with a sprained foot. Backup Jason Vaughan managed just 78 yards passing against the Utes, who lead the Mountain West defensively.

Jeremi Rudolph rushed 16 times for 112 yards, his third straight 100-yard game, but UNLV hasn't won a road game in November since 1993.

Utah struck first with Ryan Kaneshiro's 32-yard field goal. A sack by Utah's Kautai Olevao produced a fumble and led to a 20-yard scoring pass from Rice to Steve Smith.

Rudolph rushed for a Rebel touchdown on fourth-and-1 but Dillon Pieffer missed the PAT kick.

The Utes answered when Smith caught a long pass from Rice in full stride for a 62-yard touchdown and Utah's highest-scoring first half of the season.

Pieffer made a 38-yard field goal with 4:35 left in the first half to cut Utah's lead to 17-9. Tate ran for a 6-yard touchdown with 2:59 in the third period.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Rice connected with Chris Christensen for a 10-yard touchdown and Utah led 31-9. Dameon Hunter added a 4-yard TD with 5:17 remaining.

UNLV scored on Kevin Thomas's 31-yard fumble return with 56 seconds left as the Utes were attempting to run out the clock.