FEB. 20 - Rebels hold off Cowboys at A-A

LARAMIE – The University of Wyoming didn't need a perfect game to beat UNLV on Tuesday at the Arena-Auditorium.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they were anything but perfect.

UW shot just 26.9 percent from the 3-point line and committed 19 turnovers during a 66-56 loss to the Rebels.

UNLV (15-11, 9-5 Mountain West) won for the fourth time in its last five games to remain in fifth place in the league standings.

The Cowboys (6-20, 2-11) lost for the sixth time in seven games.

UW senior Justin James, who had to leave the game for the final 2 minutes of the first half after hitting his head on the court, scored 16 of his game-high 25 points during the second half to help the Cowboys stay in the game.

A.J. Banks was the only other UW player to score at least nine points.

Jake Hendricks and T.J. Taylor each added eight points for the Cowboys.

UW was 7 of 26 on 3-pointers after making at least 12 3s in three of the past four games.

UNLV had four players in double figures, led by Kris Clyburn with 17. Joel Ntambwe, who scored 30 points in UNLV's win over UW earlier this season, added 15 while Amauri Hardy and Noah Robotham each scored 10 points.

UNLV was also a perfect 16 of 16 from the free throw line in the game.

UW used its deliberate pace on offense to frustrate UNLV for most of the game.

Both teams took turns with mini runs in a first half that saw the Rebels lead 30-23 at the break.

UNLV started the game with a 10-2 spurt and eventually led 19-11. The Cowboys responded with a 10-0 run for a 21-19 lead with 6:31 to go in the half.

But UNLV ended the half on an 11-2 run for its seven-point lead.

The Rebels pushed the margin to as many as 13 points early in the second half before a 7-0 Cowboys' run cut the lead to 43-37 with 12:44 to play.

Trailing 55-45 with just over six minutes left, UW went on its best offensive run of the game – an 8-0 spurt – to cut lead the 55-53 on a James layup.

UW had two chances to tie the game or take the lead, but had turnovers on each possession.

Ntambwe hit a short jumper in the lane and Robotham buried a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Rebels a 62-53 lead.

UW next plays at Colorado State at noon Saturday in the second Border War meeting between the teams.