Shooting woes continue for Rebels in first half

LEXINGTON — UNLV’s shooting woes, a major reason for the team’s late-season slide, have continued in the first half of tonight’s first round NIT game with Kentucky here at Memorial Coliseum.

The Rebels trail the Wildcats at halftime, 36-24.

UNLV has played well defensively for most of the game holding Kentucky’s two all-SEC performers, guard Jodie Meeks and forward Patrick Patterson, to seven and six points respectively. And they did it without first team all-MWC defender Rene Rougeau for most of the half after Rougeau picked up his second foul at the 13:30 mark.

But the Runnin’ Rebels, who jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, shot just 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from the floor and connected on just 3-of-17 3-pointers (17.6 percent).

Even worse, the Rebels were a dreadful 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) at the free throw line.

The Rebels missed 11 straight treys after Joe Darger connected from behind the arc to give UNLV a 3-2 lead with 17:47 to go.

Kentucky ended the half with a 17-6 run over the final 7:05 with UNLV’s only points coming on a pair of treys by Kendall Wallace and Darger.

Darger has 8 points to lead the Rebels.