March 15, 2008

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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES (March 15, 2008)
#2 UNLV 76, #1 BYU 61

• UNLV wins the 2008 MWC Tournament championship, and receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. UNLV will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

• The Runnin' Rebels become the first team in the nine-year history of the MWC tournament to win back-to-back titles.

• UNLV's Wink Adams was named 2008 MWC Tournament MVP. Joining Adams on the all-tournament team were BYU's Lee Cummard, UNLV's Rene Rougeau and Curtis Terry, and Utah's Luke Nevill.

• No. 2 seeds are now 4-0 all time in the MWC tournament finals, winning titles in 2001 (BYU), 2005 (New Mexico), 2007 and 2008 (UNLV).

• The No. 1 seed now holds a 2-3 record in the MWC tournament finals. The last time a No. 1 seed won the title was in 2006 when San Diego State defeated Wyoming, 69-64, in overtime.

• BYU is now 11-8 all-time in the MWC tournament, including a 4-2 record as the event's top seed. The Cougars are 1-3 in MWC championship games.

• The loss to UNLV snapped BYU's six-game winning streak. The Cougars have won 15 of their last 17 games.

• BYU and UNLV have met in the MWC tournament three times (2000, 2007, 2008), with each meeting occurring in the championship game. UNLV is 3-0 in those contests.

• BYU registered 25 rebounds in the contest, giving the Cougars 1,326 for the season, which is a new MWC record. The previous mark of 1,302 rebounds was set by UNLV in 1999-00.

• UNLV has played in the MWC tournament finals six times in the nine-year history of the league, winning the title in 2000, 2007 and 2008.

• The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have met in the MWC tournament finals three of the nine years (2005, 2007, 2008) with the No. 2 seed winning each time.

• BYU lost for just the third time this season after holding a double-digit lead. The Cougars led by 14 vs. Michigan State and 12 at Boise State).

• BYU's Jimmer Fredette set a career-high for free throws made in a game with six, beating his previous record of five set against Jackson State, LMU and UNLV. His seven free throw attempts also set a career-high.

• BYU's Lee Cummard has scored in double figures in 31 of 34 games this season.

• UNLV's Curtis Terry went 11-of-14 from the line, setting a record for free throws made and attempted in a MWC tournament championship game. Terry also set career-highs with both marks.

• UNLV set a record for total 3-point field goal attempts in a MWC tournament with 63, beating their own record of 61, set in the 2007 tournament.

• UNLV is now 11-0 in MWC tournament action when it scores 76 or more points in a game.