BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Two Down, Las Vegas Wins by Two, 69-67

Nevada Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian says his Runnin’ Rebels played on pride Thursday night, defeating UC Santa Barbara, 69-67, at Las Vegas with two starters benched by the NCAA and a third playing with the flu.

Larry Johnson scored 28 points and Anderson Hunt added 22 for the fifth-ranked Rebels, 14-3 and 8-1 in the Big West Conference. Eric McArthur led the Gauchos (11-5 and 5-3) with 14 points, Idris Jones had 13 and and Carrick DeHart 11.

UNLV played without center David Butler and guard Greg Anthony, who were ruled ineligible by the NCAA for one game because they had not paid telephone bills they ran up while on the road during the 1988-89 season. The bills were paid earlier Thursday.

Tarkanian said starting forward Stacey Augmon had the flu and would not have played if Butler and Anthony had been available.

Tarkanian declined to comment on the NCAA edict, saying only that the players learned of the order three hours before the game.

Hunt brought the Rebels from behind on four occasions in the second half.

The Rebels led, 34-31, at halftime, but the lead changed hands several times in the second half. With the Gauchos trailing, 68-66, with 15 seconds remaining, Jones had a chance to tie the score, but he missed the first of two free throws, then made the second.

Hunt was fouled with three seconds remaining and made the first of two free throws for the final point. The Gauchos lost the ball out of bounds in a desperation effort for a final shot.

New Mexico State 80, San Jose State 76--Randy Brown’s 23 points led the Aggies to victory at San Jose.

The Aggies used a full-court press to force the Spartans into 13 turnovers to lead 37-27 at halftime.

Troy Batiste scored 24 points, including 20 in the second half, for the Spartans (5-11 and 2-5). New Mexico State is 16-2 and 7-1.