Oct 13, 2001
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jason Thomas ran for one touchdown and threw for another as UNLV beat San Diego State 31-3 on Saturday.
Thomas, who had been ineffective as the Rebels opened the season with three straight losses, was 10-of-17 for 133 yards and gained 52 yards on 10 carries.
Joe Haro rushed for 136 yards on 23 carries for the Rebels (1-1, 2-3 Mountain West), who finished with 427 total yards.
Larry Ned, who averaged 154 yards per game and had scored eight touchdowns entering the game, was held to 46 yards on 17 carries for San Diego State (1-2, 2-4). The Aztecs had 160 total yards.
UNLV scored all its points in the first half. The Rebels began with Thomas's 8-yard TD strike to DeJhown Mandley with 11:51 to play in the first quarter, and scored the game's final touchdown on Troy Mason's 52-yard punt return as time expired in the second.
Mason finished with 114 yards on three punt returns.
The Rebels scored twice more in the second quarter. Steven Costa caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Kurt Nantkes, and Thomas scored on an 8-yard run to put UNLV up 24-3 with 1:09 to play in the half.