March 1, 2004
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By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Odartey Blankson scored 11 straight points late in
the second half and finished with a career-high 28 in UNLV’s 78-75 win over New
Mexico Monday night.
Blankson’s scoring spree over a period of less than three minutes put the
Rebels (16-10, 7-6 MWC) over the top in the up-tempo game that saw the two
teams combine for 18 3-pointers while putting up 125 shots.
UNLV held off New Mexico (14-12, 5-8) behind point guard Jerel Blassingame’s
five straight points inside of two minutes and Demetrius Hunter’s two free
throws with 17.9 seconds left.
Blankson, who also had 12 rebounds, was 4-for-4 on 3-pointers and 7-for-9
shooting overall in the second half.
Hunter’s free throws, which followed an off-balance 3-pointer by New
Mexico’s Javin Tindall with 18.7 seconds left, were the last points of the
game. New Mexico put up three 3-pointers in the final seconds, but all missed.
Troy DeVries’ 3 rimmed out, and teammate Danny Granger rebounded the miss
and passed it to an open Tindall at the top of the key. Tindall’s 3-pointer
also rimmed out, but again Granger got the rebound. With only a couple of
seconds left, Granger dribbled out to behind the arc and put a 3 at the buzzer
that sailed long.
Granger led New Mexico with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Tindall added 17
points and a career-high 5 steals.
New Mexico took a 64-62 lead after Rebels center J.K. Edwards fouled out
with 5:56 left and the UNLV bench was assessed a technical foul for protesting
the call. Tindall hit one of the two technical foul shots and Granger, who was
fouled by Edwards, hit both of his free throws.
Blankson, who had given UNLV a 62-61 lead with a basket moments earlier,
then took over. He hit a 15-footer, a layup, a 3-pointer and another 15-footer
for a 71-68 UNLV lead with 3:41 remaining.
After Tindall’s late 3-pointer got New Mexico within 76-75, Hunter was
fouled on the inbound play. He swished through both free throws, his only
points of the game.