PCAA Roundup : UNLV’s Road Warriors Turn Back Fresno State, 71-60

Gerald Paddio scored 18 points, and eighth-ranked Nevada Las Vegas held off a second-half rally by Fresno State for a 71-60 Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. victory Saturday at Fresno.

The Rebels (25-3, 14-2) moved out to an early 10-point lead and led by 15 with six minutes left to play before the Bulldogs mounted a comeback.

It was the Rebels’ 14th road win in 15 games this season and gave them 38 victories in their last 41 road games.

“Our road record this year is very pleasing,” UNLV Coach Jerry Tarkanian said.

Jervis Cole of Fresno State (9-16, 6-10), who had 23 points and 11 rebounds, cut the margin to 60-55 on a free throw with 4:54 remaining after UNLV’s Jarvis Basnight fouled out.

But the Rebels scored seven straight points to boost the lead to 67-55 with 1:10 remaining.

“Rarely have I come in here and not had a battle,” Tarkanian said. “I’m just happy any time I can come in here and win.”

Basnight overcame a slight concussion, suffered Thursday night against Pacific, to score 11 points and grab 8 rebounds.

But Basnight fouled out less than a minute after Stacey Augmon, who finished with 13 points, was charged with his fifth foul.

“When both of them went out, I thought we were in trouble,” Tarkanian said. “But what helped was (Richard) Robinson coming off the bench and hitting a couple of key baskets.”

Robinson made all three of his field-goal attempts.

The Bulldogs scored the first basket of the game before missing their next 13 shots as UNLV ran off 12 straight points. The Rebels led, 37-28, at halftime and also shook off an early second-half rally that cut the margin to 42-40 with 15 minutes remaining.

New Mexico State 81, UC Santa Barbara 57--Forward Johnny Roberson scored 14 points, and five other Aggies scored in double figures at Las Cruces, N.M.

The Aggies are 16-13 and 8-8 in the conference. The Gauchos, whose four-game win streak ended, are 20-6 and 12-5.

Mike Doyle led Gaucho scorers with 21 points.