UNLV Keeps CS Northridge in a Bad Spin

Howie Landa says he used to dream about taking over as Nevada Las Vegas basketball coach for one game, winning it, and unseating Jerry Tarkanian as the coach with the best winning percentage in school history.

Landa has done one better than that.

With Coach Tim Grgurich still recovering from exhaustion in a Southern California hospital, Landa won his second consecutive game as interim coach of the Runnin’ Rebels, a 91-79 decision over Cal State Northridge in a nonconference game before 1,076 in the Northridge Gym.

Kebu Stewart equaled his season high with 31 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds as UNLV (4-5) overcame 24 turnovers by shooting 53.8% and making 32 of 37 free throws.

Stewart, a 6-foot-8 junior, made 15 of 17 free throws, including his first 13. He came in shooting 56% from the line.

“Why didn’t he break out of that free-throw slump against someone else?” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said.

Northridge (3-10), which has lost seven of its last eight, made 17 steals, committed only 13 turnovers, held a 28-11 edge on the offensive boards, but shot a season-low 31.8%.