March 1, 2002

Box Score

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Lou Kelly scored 19 points, including two free throws that put UNLV up for good, as the Runnin' Rebels beat Air Force 73-66 on Thursday.

Kelly's free throws broke a 64-64 tie with 1:45 remaining, and UNLV tallied the next six points, including two more Kelly free throws, to secure a 72-64 lead with 15 seconds left.

Kelly made 3 of 5 3-pointers and had five assists, and Jevon Banks added 14 for the Rebels (17-9, 8-5 Mountain West), who outscored Air Force 42-26 in the paint for their third straight win.

UNLV jumped to an early lead behind 4-for-8 3-point shooting in the first half. The Rebels led 41-29 at halftime and were up by as many as 16 in the second half.

The Falcons (9-17, 3-10), who've lost their last four games, trailed 58-46 midway through the second half. But Tom Bellairs scored five of his 11 points in a game-tying 18-6 Air Force run that knotted it at 64-64.

Joel Gerlach scored 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting to lead the Falcons, who were outrebounded 31-24.