COLLEGE BASKETBALL BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Johnson, Augmon Lead Las Vegas

Larry Johnson scored the first eight points of the second half and Stacey Augmon keyed a second-half run to lead top-ranked Nevada Las Vegas to a 117-91 Big West Conference victory over Fresno State Saturday night at Fresno.

The Rebels (11-0 overall, 5-0 in the Big West) led by as many as 25 points in the first half. Johnson, who had 19 points in the first half, picked up his fourth foul and was taken out of the game after scoring the eight points.

The Bulldogs (7-7, 2-3) rallied early in the second half to get to within 72-61, but could get no closer. Stacey Augmon, who had 22 points for the Rebels, sparked a 22-10 run, scoring 14 points in a span of less than six minutes.

Wilbert Hooker led Fresno State with 24 points and Tod Bernard added 23 to go along with 13 rebounds. Dave Barnett had 20 points for the Bulldogs.

Johnson led the Rebels with 27 points. Augmon had 22, Greg Anthony 19 and 11 assists and Anderson Hunt 16.

No. 23 New Mexico State 64, UC Santa Barbara 57--Randy Brown made a basket and three free throws in the final 1:40 to help the Aggies improve their Big West record to 3-0 and also extend their home-court winning streak to 25 games.

UC Santa Barbara (7-6, 2-3) had pulled to within 57-56 on Gary Gray’s basket with 3:15 left, but a minute later, Ray Stewart missed two free throws that would have given the Gauchos the lead.

Brown then scored on a tip-in and made three of four free throws that gave the Aggies, 11-1 overall, a 62-56 lead. Chris Hickman, who made all eight of his free throw attempts, extended the lead to 64-56 on two more free throws.