BIG WEST : UC Irvine Loses to UNLV Again

The mighty had fallen--flat on their faces if you ask the former Nevada Las Vegas faithful who have taken to booing their once-beloved basketball team at home--but there’s nothing like agame against UC Irvine to raise the spirits of the Rebels.

Las Vegas, a team that scored the fewest points in school history nine days ago in a 59-39 loss to Virginia, made it 10 in a row over the Anteaters on Tuesday night with a 101-79 Big West victory before 3,115 in the Bren Center.

Reggie Manuel finished with a career-high 39 points, making six of 11 three-pointers. Guard Chris Brown, with a meaningless, late three-point barrage, led Irvine (4-6 overall and 1-1 in conference) with 19 points. But the Rebels (6-4, 2-0) dominated in nearly every phase of the game.

Irvine point guard Lloyd Mumford, who sat out Saturday’s loss to Cal State Northridge because of an ankle injury, went down hard on a layup attempt early in the first half and was taken to UCI Medical Center for treatment of a cut left eyelid. Then forward Jermaine Avie ended up face down on the bench seats under the southern basket and left the game because of a sprained left ankle.

Irvine missed its first nine shots as the Rebels took a 11-3 lead, but the Anteaters went on a 22-4 run that put them ahead, 25-15, with 10:56 left in the half.

The Irvine student section was mocking Las Vegas’ troubles with the NCAA by chanting, “pro-bation, pro-bation” at the Rebel bench, but it was their last hurrah.

The Anteaters went 8 1/2 minutes without a field goal and were outscored, 36-5, in the final 10:44 of the first half. Irvine shot 30% from the field in the first half. Las Vegas shot only 47%, but the Rebels were 55% from three-point range, thanks mostly to Manuel. Manuel had 28 points by halftime.