Hot-shooting Utes use late 18-4 run to take 38-24 halftime lead

SALT LAKE CITY — Things were looking pretty good for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels when Rene Rougeau put in a rebound of a Tre’Von Willis miss to tie Wednesday night’s game with Utah, 20-20, with 5:58 to go in the first half at the Huntsmen Center.

But then the Utes, with senior forward Shaun Green and senior guard Lawrence Borha both draining two 3-pointers, went on a 18-4 spurt to end the half and lead the Rebels, 38-24.

Utah made 6-of-10 3-pointers (60.0 percent) in the first half including 3-of-5 by Green who tied 7-foot-2 center Luke Nevill for high-point honors with 11. Nevill also has already grabbed 9 rebounds and Utah holds a 21-12 edge on the boards.

Rougeau has been the lone bright spot for the Rebels with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go along with 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Senior guard Wink Adams has scored just 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting. UNLV made just 11-of-30 shots (36.7 percent) in the first half.