Tark Worries While UNLV Sinks Pacific by 40 Points

No lead is a safe lead if you’re a worrier like Nevada Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian.

After watching University of the Pacific trim his ninth-ranked Running Rebels’ lead to 18 at halftime Thursday night, Tarkanian reinserted his starters to help widen the margin.

UNLV responded with the first 10 points of the half and raced to a 116-76 Big West Conference victory.

Reserve Barry Young scored a season-high 20 points to lead five UNLV players in double figures.

All 12 Rebel players scored as Tarkanian substituted freely after his team opened a 25-point lead halfway through the first half.

“I really wanted to rest the first group tonight, but a lot of times that backfires,” Tarkanian said. “But I like to reward the second group in a situation like that.”

UNLV led by as many as 44 in the second half in improving to 18-4 overall, 11-1 in the Big West. Pacific fell to 12-9, 5-7.

The defeat was the worst suffered by the Tigers in conference play since they were beaten by 40 points by UNLV in 1984.