Half: San Diego State 42, UNLV 27

UNLV’s NCAA Tournament hopes could be half-gone.

The Runnin’ Rebels trail San Diego State, 42-27, at halftime of today’s Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup at the Thomas & Mack Center in what most view as a must-win game for Lon Kruger’s squad if they hope to take part in March Madness for a third straight year.

The Aztecs are simply overpowering the smaller Rebels inside. San Diego State holds a huge 22-4 edge in points in the paint and has repeatedly carved the Rebels up with drives to the basket.

UNLV fans can be thankful that senior guard Wink Adams finally emerged from his late-season slump or it would be a whole lot worse. Adams, who scored just three points in a season-ending 57-46 loss at San Diego State last Saturday night, already has 17 points at intermission. However, no other Rebel has more than three points and all-MWC guard Rene Rougeau, who played just eight minutes because of foul problems, is scoreless.

Ryan Amoroso and Lorrenzo Wade each scored nine points to lead San Diego State which also nailed 6-of-11 3-point tries.