Feb. 16, 2002

Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming loves to play UNLV because the Cowboys know the Runnin' Rebels run.

"All other teams try to slow us down," said Cowboy guard Danta Richardson.

"It's fun to actually run up and down and play some basketball," added forward Marcus Bailey.

Bailey scored 21 points and Uche Nsonwu-Amadi and Richardson added 20 apiece in leading Wyoming past UNLV 82-78 Saturday.

"When those three get 20, we're pretty hard to beat," Wyoming coach Steve McClain said.

Wyoming (17-5 overall, 8-1 Mountain West) hasn't had such a good record at this point in the season since 1987-88.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for UNLV.

The game was close throughout, with no more than 10 points between the teams.

Wyoming gained a 34-27 halftime lead after outscoring the Runnin' Rebels 13-4 in the last 7 minutes of the first half.

UNLV (14-9, 5-5) opened the second half with a 13-6 run to pull within 41-40. But the Cowboys went ahead by 10 about midway through the second half thanks to a 9-0 run keyed by 5 points from Bailey.

UNLV pulled within 2 points several times thereafter, the latest with 24 seconds left after Marcus Banks scored two quick baskets to make the score 80-78.

"It was getting to become a little scary," Nsonwu-Amadi said with a big smile on his face.

Richardson sank two free throws with 7 seconds left to ice the victory for Wyoming.

"We specifically got the ball in his hands because we wanted him at the line," McClain said.

Richardson hit all six of his foul shots for the game. Over the last two games he has hit 16 straight without a miss.

Wyoming shot 30 of 58 from the floor (52 percent) and 20 of 31 from the line (65 percent).

UNLV, which recorded 13 steals, was 29 of 65 from the field (45 percent) and 16 of 17 from the foul stripe (94 percent).

Banks led the Runnin' Rebels with 22 points. Lou Kelly added 20, and Dalron Johnson had 17.

Wyoming, led by Nsonwu-Amadi's nine rebounds, outrebounded UNLV 41-28.

"Rebounds were a key," said UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour. "I think we're athletic, but so is Wyoming. Wyoming's got some very good athletes, and they broke us down defensively. That helps with the rebounds, and they're a good rebounding team."