Feb. 21, 2009

Final Stats | Postgame Press Conference (Video) | Radio Highlights (Audio)

LAS VEGAS (AP) -Wink Adams scored a game-high 22 points to lead UNLV over BYU 75-74 as the Rebels held off a late Cougars run in a Mountain West Conference game on Saturday night.

Adams hit five free throws in the final 1:02 of the game after BYU trailed 67-55 with 3:16 left. He also had seven rebounds and five assists in front of 18,523 - UNLV's first sellout since 1993.

Also for the Rebels (20-7, 8-5), senior guard Mareceo Rutledge scored a career high 13 points. Rene Rougeau had 12 points and five rebounds, while Tre'Von Willis added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Rebels.

Lee Cummard led BYU (20-6, 8-4) with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jonathan Tavernari added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tavernari was 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Jimmer Fredette added 13 points, while Chris Miles had 10 for the Cougars, who came in winners of five straight.

The game also was a rematch of the last two Mountain West Conference tournament finals, both won by UNLV on the same floor.

After a 37-37 tie, UNLV took the lead for good eventually building two 12-point leads. After the second 12-point lead with 3:16 left, BYU chipped away and eventually cut to 75-74 on a 3-pointer by Cummard with four seconds left. But Adams got loose on the inbounds and dribbled out the clock.

The Rebels swept the season series, as they won at BYU 76-70 on Jan. 21. The win marks the third consecutive year that UNLV has reached 20 wins.

Both teams built five-point leads in the first half, but the Rebels led 23-21 after Rougeau's layup with two seconds left before intermission.