Men's Basketball 12/21/2004 12:00:00 AM

Blankson Shines As Rebels Cruise By Gardner-Webb, 80-65

Dec. 21, 2004

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Ordartey Blankson had 30 points and 11 rebounds as UNLV defeated Gardner-Webb 80-65 Tuesday.

The Rebels (4-4) led the entire second half and held a double-digit lead for the final 16:01.

Romel Beck had 16 points for the Rebels while Louis Amundson had 10 rebounds and Jerel Blassingame had a team-high 11 assists.

Brian Bender led the Bulldogs (5-3) with 21 points, including five 3-pointers in the first half.

Bender also led Gardner-Webb with 10 rebounds and four assists.

A Blankson jumper put UNLV ahead for the first time 32-30 with 2:44 left in the first half. The Rebels led 41-37 at halftime.

The Bulldogs scored their first 24 points on eight 3-pointers, including Bender's five for 15 points.

The Bulldogs led by as many as nine in the first half, but they never regained the lead after Blankson put the Rebels ahead.

Players Mentioned