Jan. 26, 2002
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Louis Amundson made a free throw with 2.4 seconds left in overtime and UNLV, which blew a 15-point second-half lead, beat San Diego State 80-79 on Saturday night.
UNLV (10-7, 3-3 Mountain West Conference) had to hold on even after scoring the first seven points in overtime for a 76-69 lead.
San Diego State's Al Faux made the first of two free throws with 11.1 seconds left to tie the game at 79, but missed the second and UNLV rebounded. Amundson was fouled by Tony Bland and made the first free throw but missed the second, with SDSU rebounding with 2.1 seconds left.
Brandon Smith inbounded to Bland, whose shot from just inside halfcourt bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
It was the second straight overtime loss for San Diego State (11-8, 1-4), which has dropped into the bottom half of the league standings after being picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll. The Aztecs blew a 14-point first-half lead over Wyoming on Monday night and lost 88-85.
UNLV and San Diego State each made just one field goal in overtime.
Lou Kelly scored 21 for the Runnin' Rebels, Dalron Johnson scored six of his 14 points in overtime before fouling out, and Jevon Banks and Marcus Banks each scored 13.
San Diego State's Randy Holcomb had game-highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Al Faux scored 17 and Bland 16.
The Aztecs didn't score for the first 1{ minutes of overtime, falling behind 76-69 before Holcomb made two free throws. Johnson fouled out with 1:31 left and Holcomb made one free throw, and Faux made a layup with 46.8 seconds left to tie the game at 78.
The Aztecs rallied from 15 down with 12:05 left to force overtime.
They used a 24-12 run to cut UNLV's lead from 54-39 to 66-63 with 2:13 left in regulation. Randy Holcomb scored seven points in the run, including a 3-pointer, and Mike Mackell had six.
Tony Bland drove the baseline with 26 seconds left to tie the score at 69, and UNLV's Vince Booker missed a last-second shot.
SDSU committed a season-high 28 turnovers, 17 in the first half. UNLV led 35-28 at halftime.