Tarkanian Upset, Even in Victory

Second-ranked Nevada-Las Vegas’ two-point victory over Utah State left Rebels Coach Jerry Tarkanian relieved but irritated--and also soaked.

“We couldn’t guard them after five or six minutes,” Tarkanian grumbled after the 84-82 Big West victory Thursday night.

“We weren’t guarding anybody. We weren’t working defensively,” said Tarkanian, who got drenched when a water bomb went off behind the UNLV bench just before the second half began.

Security officials had been anticipating trouble, and extra guards were on duty Thursday night. When the two teams played Feb. 1 in Las Vegas, the game ended in a brawl and UNLV’s Chris Jeter and Moses Scurry were suspended.

The water bomb sent a spray of green-colored water behind the UNLV bench, drenching the people in the vicinity, including Tarkanian. After the game, a police search of the television raceway under the grates just below court level determined that the spray was emitted by a preset water bomb.

There were two carbon dioxide-activated water bombs set up underneath the raceway, said Dave Huckaby, building manager, but only one went off.

The water bombs were attached to a sprinkler timer. “It was set before the game was even started and set to go off at a certain time. And it did,” Huckaby said.

Tarkanian said, “Whoever did it was sharp.” But it ended up costing the Aggies.

Because there was a delay in the start of the second half to clean up the water around the UNLV bench, the Aggies were assessed a technical foul for the prank, and Larry Johnson sank both free throws.

The Rebels also got a free throw early in the first half after another technical against the crowd for throwing toilet paper onto the floor.

“Obviously, they helped,” said Tarkanian of the free throws.

“I thought it was taking the game away from the players,” Smith said. “That’s ridiculous. Whoever did that, there’s no call for that.”

Rod Tueller, Utah State athletic director, said the prank “concerns me greatly, and there will be the proper investigations and the proper apologies sent to our guests. It about scared some people to death. They didn’t know it was water at first.”

The Rebels (25-5, 15-2), who normally shoot near 40% from 3-point range, had open shots most of the night but couldn’t hit. They entered the game shooting 50%, but Tarkanian said his team shot “about as poorly as we have all season”--28 of 71 for 39.4%. That enabled Utah State (14-14, 8-9) to keep the game close.