Nov 17, 2001

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - Marcus Banks had 21 points as UNLV beat Wisconsin 74-69 on Saturday to give new coach Charlie Spoonhour a victory in the season opener for both teams.

Dalron Johnson added 18 points, Lou Kelly 17, and Chris Richardson 15 for the Rebels, who shot 56 percent from the field (31 of 55).

Devin Harris led Wisconsin with 20 points. Kirk Penney scored 15 and Travon Davis added 11 for the Badgers, who also have a new coach, Bo Ryan.

The Rebels scored the first nine points of the game and held a double-digit lead through most of the first half.

Wisconsin trailed 36-29 at the half, and cut the lead to four, 43-39, with 16:02 to play. But the Badgers missed their next nine shots as the Rebels built the lead to 51-41 with 9:45 remaining.

Davis scored on a fast break and Harris hit two 3-pointers to cut a 12-point UNLV lead to 59-55 with 3:41 remaining. Johnson's two free throws put the Rebels up 61-55, but Davis converted another layup to bring the Badgers back to within four.

Banks hit a 3-pointer with 2:33 left remaining to put the Rebels up 64-57. The Badgers never got closer than five points the rest of the way.