BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Johnson Scores 31 to Lead Las Vegas Over Utah State

Nevada Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian predicted that his top-ranked Rebels could be beaten.

The forecast haunted him for 20 minutes Wednesday night--24 hours after he made it--when Utah State led once and tied the national champions four times before losing steam in the second half and falling to the unbeaten Rebels, 124-93, at Las Vegas.

“I thought Utah State played a great game the first half against us,� Tarkanian said. “I’ve got to give Coach Kohn Smith a lot of credit.�

Larry Johnson scored 31 points to lead the Rebels to the Big West Conference victory.

UNLV (10-0, 4-0) couldn’t get on track in the first half while the Aggies (5-8, 2-2) trailed 59-54 at halftime.

The Rebels opened the second half with a 16-4 run to push their lead to 75-58 in the first four minutes on baskets by Greg Anthony, Johnson and George Ackles. Anthony finished with 25 points and Ackles had 16.

Kendall Youngblood led the Aggies with 21 points, all in the first half. Jay Goodman had 20, including 15 in the first half.

UC Santa Barbara 72, Pacific 66--Ray Kelly had a season-high 15 points, including five in a row during the decisive stretch run, to lead the Gauchos (7-5, 2-2) over the Tigers (6-8, 2-2) at Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara shot 75% in the second half and 61% overall.

Lucious Davis scored 18 points and Gary Gray 17 for the Gauchos. Don Lyttle scored 26 for Pacific.

Pacific trailed 69-64 in the final minute and had the ball, but a turnover led to a clinching dunk by Davis with 40 seconds left.