Nov. 29, 2003

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Odartey Blankson had 19 points and six rebounds to lead UNLV, which held off a second-half California surge in the final seconds for a 59-57 win Saturday night.

Demetrius Hunter added 15 points for UNLV (3-1) and Louis Amundson had eight points and eight rebounds.

The Rebels led 51-31 with 14:00 left in the game, but slowly watched the lead disappear. Ayinde Ubaka missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Amit Tamir missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for California, either of which would have won the game for the Bears.

Leon Powe led California (1-2) with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Tamir had 11 points and four assists.

California went on a 16-0 run to cut UNLV's lead to 51-47 with 7:31 left. The Bears later reduced the lead to 58-57 with 1:55 left on a Marquise Kately field goal.

Amundson later hit one of two free throws with 45 seconds left to make it 59-57 UNLV.

UNLV led for most of the first half, with its biggest lead coming at halftime, 37-29.

The Rebels went 24-of-48 from the field for 50 percent, while the Bears were 23-of-68 for 33.8 percent.