Cold-shooting Rebels rally for 20-19 halftime lead

It doesn’t get much uglier than this.

Over 11 1/2 minutes between field goals. Nine points in the first 12 1/2 minutes. Yet the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, despite matching their season first low for points (at Nevada on Dec. 6), actually lead the Air Force Falcons, 20-19, at halftime at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday night.

That should tell you just how bad Air Force (9-18, 0-14), losers of 15 straight games, are this season.

The Runnin’ Rebels used a 9-0 spurt in the final 4:06 to take a 20-19 halftime lead.

Joe Darger’s one-and-one with 49.9 seconds left in the half gave UNLV, which trailed by as many as eight points (19-11), the lead at intermission.

Both teams shot an identical 7-of-22 from the floor (31.8 percent). UNLV made just 2-of-11 3-pointers (18.2 percent) and was even out-rebounded by Air Force, 17-15.

Wink Adams leads the Rebels with 7 points (3-of-5 from the floor) and senior Mo Rutledge already has 4 steals.