Rams lose on last-second tip-in at UNLV, 78-76

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Colorado State couldn't withstand a late UNLV charge, including the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds to play, and fell on the road 78-76, Wednesday night in the Mountain West opener for both schools. The Rams dropped to 5-9 and 0-1 in conference action, while the Runnin' Rebels improved to 7-6 and 1-0 in the league.

After leading by as many as 11 with just under 18 minutes to play, CSU was unable to pull away, as the hosts continued to make runs. The Rams held a 73-65 lead with 4:47 to play, but hit just one of seven field goal attempts in the closing minutes as the game was tied twice in the final two minutes, including at 76-all with 1:30 to go. From there, both teams battled with shots falling off the rim until Cheikh Mbacke Diong got the tip in with 1.2 seconds remaining. CSU inbounded the ball but it was knocked away without a shot.

The teams had two ties and three lead changes in the first 11 minutes of the game, with UNLV holding a four-point lead at 22-18 with 8:51 to play in the first half. From there, CSU went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 30-23 lead. Behind 18 points and 12 rebounds in the first 20 minutes from redshirt-junior Nico Carvacho, the Rams eventually built as much as an 11-point advantage late in the period before going into the break with a 43-36 lead. CSU's defense was strong in the first half, holding UNLV to making just two of its last 18 field goal attempts and 25 percent overall from the floor.

Carvacho finished with a career-high 28 points and game-high 20 rebounds, while redshirt-senior J.D. Paige ended with 20 points. UNLV had five players in double figures with Kris Clyburn and Joel Ntambwe leading the squad with 17 points each.

STAT OF THE GAME
UNLV scored 10 more points at the free throw line, going 20-of-24 (83.3 percent) while CSU was just 10-of-18 (55.6 percent).

IN THEIR WORDS
Head Coach Niko Medved
His overall feeling on the game
That's a gut punch. I hate it for those guys. I thought we did a lot of good things tonight. We came out and played terrific half-court defense. I thought this was the best performance we have had all year. We knew they were the best offensive rebounding team in the country and that would be an issue and it was. And that's what really got us at the end. We just couldn't come up with whatever. If we come up with one more rebound, we come out of here a winner. A tough, tough way to lose, but we've got to move on to the next.

NOTES
• Current series is now 39-16 UNLV, including 28-15 in conference play and 23-5 in Las Vegas.
• Rams are now 5-15 in Mountain West Conference openers, including 1-8 on the road.
• Carvacho finalized his double-double in the first half, giving him nine on the season so far and 22 in his career, tying for current NBA player Jason Smith for second on CSU's career list.
• Carvacho recorded his third career 20-point, 20-rebound game, setting a new school record in the modern era.
• CSU shot 47.0 percent (31-of-66) while UNLV was just 33.8 percent (25-of-74).
• The Rebels outrebounded the Rams 53-40, including 24 offensive rebounds they converted into a 20-14 advantage in points.

UP NEXT
• The Rams will continue its opening Mountain West Conference road trip, traveling to take on Fresno State on Sat., Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT.
• The contest between will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, with Drew Goodman on play-by-play, Dave Bollwinkel the analyst and Jenny Cavnar on the sidelines.
• The game will air across the Colorado State Sports Network (along with online at CSURams.com), with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon on the call.
• CSU Sports Network broadcasts can be also accessed on mobile devices through the TuneIn app (free on all Apple, Android, Windows, Blackberry and Amazon Kindle devices) – once downloaded, search "Colorado St. Rams Sports Network" in the app for the games and coaches' show broadcasts.

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