NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL FINAL : Hunt’s Sharpshooting Bags MVP : UNLV: Sophomore is a demon against the Blue Devils. He makes 12 of 16 shots, four of seven three-pointers.

After the Runnin’ Rebels ran away from Duke in the NCAA championship game here Monday night, guard Anderson Hunt of Nevada Las Vegas clutched the NCAA championship trophy as if it were a newborn baby.

Voted the most valuable player of the Final Four, Hunt scored 29 points as UNLV crushed Duke, 103-73. Hunt sank 12 of 16 shots, including four of seven three-pointers. He also made one of two free throws.

Was this the best game Hunt has played this season?

“This was the best big game he’s ever played,” UNLV Coach Jerry Tarkanian said.

Hunt, a 6-foot-1 1/2 sophomore, played his best basketball in the final three games of the NCAA Tournament. He scored 30 points against Loyola Marymount in the West Regional final and 20 in a semifinal win over Georgia Tech. UNLV’s most accurate three-point shooter, Hunt made nine three-point shots in the Final Four.

“Anderson played just about the best ballgame he could play,” UNLV forward Larry Johnson said. “He played well on the defensive end and the offensive end. When we get out on the break, (point guard) Greg Anthony does a great job of just looking for Anderson. And Anderson knows what to do with the ball.”

Also impressed with Hunt was Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“He was fantastic,” Krzyzewski said. “He never looked tired. His three-point shots were such momentum shots. When you thought you might have a chance to get back a little bit, he’d hit a three-pointer. He played an incredible game. He was beating us down the court.”

Hunt helped the Runnin’ Rebels break open the game, scoring 12 points and passing off for two assists as UNLV blitzed Duke, 18-0, in a 2:43 spurt in the second half. Hunt sank two three-point shots in the blitz.

With UNLV leading, 57-47, Hunt made a jump shot and then added a three-point basket after Johnson banked in a shot. Hunt added two layups and another three-point shot to fuel the run. He also set up Johnson for a layup and teammate Stacey Augmon for a dunk.

What caused the run?

“I think they picked up their defensive intensity a little more,” Duke guard Phil Henderson said. “We definitely came out in the second half and wanted to change things around, but you have to give them so much credit.”

Henderson, who guarded Hunt, said Hunt was tireless.

“He played like he never got tired,” Henderson said. “He just did a great job of running the floor. And that in itself tired you out trying to keep up with where he was at.

Hunt also did a good job of playing defense, checking Duke guard Bobby Hurley. Duke’s floor leader, Hurley, played out of sync because of the constant harassment of Hunt. Hurley missed all three shots he took and also had five turnovers.

“I was concentrating on Bobby Hurley,” Hunt said. “I wasn’t really concentrating on my offense. But fortunately, I hit those open shots.”

Hunt wasn’t the only Rebel who played well in UNLV’s record-setting win. The Rebels won with such ease that Tarkanian never had to chew on his towel.

Named to the all-tournament team, Johnson had 22 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and one block. He sank eight of 12 shots, including a pair of three-pointers from the top of the key.

“I knew it was open the first half, but I wasn’t thinking about shooting,” Johnson said. “I put it in my mind that if it was open the second half, I was going to take it, and fortunately it worked for me.”

Tarkanian said Johnson has the green light to take the three-point shots.

“He took those shots because it was a big game,” Tarkanian said. “If it was a close game, he never would have taken those shots.”

Johnson also did a good job on defense, limiting Duke forward Christian Laettner to 15 points. Laettner made only five of 12 shots.

“He’s a great post player down low, but I tried to front him and go for the lob,” Johnson said.

Johnson downplayed speculation that he’ll leave UNLV for the NBA next season.

Asked what he plans to do next year, Johnson said, “Win back-to-back titles.”