Nevada Las Vegas officials are to meet...

Nevada Las Vegas officials are to meet with NCAA representatives in Chicago today, hopeful a second appeal could allow the Rebels to defend their national basketball championship next year.

“These kids have worked hard to represent our university and I think they deserve the chance to defend their title,” UNLV President Robert Maxson said Friday. “My major concern has always been that our youngsters be treated fairly and that they not be penalized for something in which they were not involved.”

Maxson flew to Chicago Saturday with Coach Jerry Tarkanian, interim athletic director Dennis Finfrock, university counsel Brad Booke, and Danny Tarkanian, the coach’s son who is an attorney.

They will meet with the NCAA’s five-member Infractions Committee, hoping to reverse a penalty the committee handed down July 20 that would prevent the Rebels from competing in postseason play next year.