Jan 28, 2003

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Demetrius Hunter scored a career-high 24 points and UNLV withstood a 40-point scoring spree by New Mexico's Ruben Douglas to beat the Lobos 75-66 Monday night.

UNLV (12-5, 1-3 Mountain West) rallied from a 41-32 halftime deficit with a 14-3 run in the first three minutes of the second half. Hunter, a transfer from Georgetown, and senior Dalron Johnson each hit a pair of 3s to key the run.

Johnson added 17 points and J.K. Edwards had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Douglas also had a career-high in points. He got 25 of them in the first half, when he hit 6 of 7 3-pointers and wore out several UNLV defenders.

But New Mexico (7-10, 1-3 MWC) couldn't get Douglas enough help and he seemed to wear down in the second half. Jamaal Williams with 14 points was the only other New Mexico player in double figures.

The last of Douglas' eighth 3-pointer got the Lobos within 70-66 with 1:30 left, but UNLV stayed in front as Marcus Banks, Johnson and J.K. Edwards combined to hit 5 free throws in the final minute.

Douglas, the fourth leading scorer in the country, hit 15 of 31 shots, but was just 6 of 16 in the second half.

A 3-pointer by Hunter gave UNLV its first lead of the game at 46-44. The teams traded leads until Hunter connected on a 3-pointer to put the Rebels ahead to stay at 65-63 with 3:52 left.