Las Vegas, NV – Mike Moser and Anthony Bennett each poured in 19 points to lead 24th-ranked UNLV to an 85-57 win over UC Irvine on Wednesday.
Katin Reinhardt had 13 points and Justin Hawkins added eight for the Runnin' Rebels (4-1), who have won two straight since falling to Oregon on Nov. 23.
Daman Starring had 20 points and Adam Folker dropped in 12 for the Anteaters (3-5), losers in four straight.
UNLV scored the game's first six points, and led by as many as 10, but UC Irvine managed to pull within 25-22. A Carlos Lopez-Sosa 3-pointer ignited a 9-2 burst to help the Rebels take a 34-26 lead into the break.
UNLV then opened the second half on a 21-10 run to go up 55-36. The Rebels kept its foot on the gas, outscoring the Anteaters 30-21 the rest of the way.
UC Irvine was held to 34.5 percent shooting (19-for-55) and went 4-for-15 from 3-point range.
The Rebels forced 15 turnovers, while giving it away just seven times.
Game Notes
UNLV owns a 32-9 lead in the all-time series ... This was the first meeting between the programs since Dec. 23 1977.