BIG WEST TOURNAMENT : UNLV Wins Its Fifth Title in Seven Seasons, 68-62

All those reasons that 18th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas isn’t supposed to go far in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament were looking like so much foolishness midway through the second half of the Big West Conference tournament final Saturday.

When Barry Young hit a three-pointer from deep in the corner with a little more than 10 minutes left in the game, UNLV led New Mexico State by 17 points. In the previous two days, the Rebels had dismissed UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton--two teams they lost to during the season--with ease.

But the Rebels, a team Coach Jerry Tarkanian says doesn’t play well when it plays cautiously, turned tentative. They would score only five more points in the game, allowing New Mexico State to inject some tense moments into a 68-62 Rebel victory that gave UNLV its fifth tournament title in seven seasons--and the automatic NCAA tournament bid that goes with it.

That bid was something UNLV had coming in any case. For New Mexico State (21-10), it is not so clear.

“I think they deserve a bid,” Tarkanian said.

New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy cited the Aggies’ 12-4 record in their final 16 games--two of those losses to UNLV.

The Aggies will await with many another team for word from the NCAA today.

UNLV (26-7) has been an explosive team all season. But its 1-4 record against ranked opponents and its trouble with free throws have made the Rebels something of a puzzle.

UNLV beat North Carolina State, but lost twice to Oklahoma, and once to Arizona and Louisville. To some observers, that means the Rebels don’t stack up. To Tarkanian, that means the Rebels have a killer schedule.

The other weakness for UNLV has been free-throw shooting. The Rebels were making only 62% from the line. But Saturday, that was no problem. UNLV hit 21 of 28 shots (75%).

Other than the final 10 minutes of the game, UNLV looked as spectacular as it has throughout this tournament. With a new lineup that includes Moses Scurry instead of George Ackles, and with Stacey Augmon and freshman guard Anderson Hunt playing near their best, UNLV has been explosive.

Just how explosive was evident from the start, when UNLV jumped to a 16-4 lead, mostly on the strength of three three-pointers by Hunt, who finished with four bombs and 12 points.

Augmon, who had 11 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists, had his lowest point total of the tournament. No matter, he was still chosen most valuable player after scoring 27 and 29 points in the first two games.

David Butler, who to Tarkanian’s dismay was not named to the all-tournament team, scored 17 points.

The tournament team was chosen by a poll of writers.

“Any one who did not vote for Butler should be ashamed,” Tarkanian said.

For New Mexico State, which turned the ball over 20 times--10 of them steals--it was no day for offense.

Willie Joseph scored only four points--three of them on one shot that got New Mexico State to within 68-62 with three minutes left. That shot, which followed a three-pointer by Keith Hill, bounced rim-to-rim, off the glass and in, but the comeback went no further.

UNLV didn’t score another point, but then, neither did New Mexico State.

Big West Notes

New Mexico State’s Keith Hill score a game-high 22 points, making seven of 15 from the field and six of seven from the free-throw line. . . . Fresno State Athletic Director Gary Cunningham issued a release Saturday confirming that Ron Adams will remain as coach next season. Adams, who won only nine games in each of his first two seasons, was under scrutiny this season but finished with a 15-14 record. . . . UC Santa Barbara Coach Jerry Pimm implied after his team’s loss to New Mexico State Friday night that the Gauchos would probably decline a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. Asked about postseason tournaments, Pimm said, “No, I think we’ll be hanging them up and getting back to our studies.” The Gauchos finished 21-8.