Round 4 (Elite 8)
West
#1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (1991) vs #6 Loyola Marymount Lions (1990)
Both teams are extremely strong offensively and because of that have been crushing their opponents.
Records thus far:
UNLV (1991)—91, Baylor (2017)—66
UNLV (1991)—96, UCLA (2008)—51
UNLV (1991)—76, Louisville (2013)—57
Loyola Marymount (1990)—114, Kansas State (1988)—82
Loyola Marymount (1990)—102, Michigan State (2000)—73
Loyola Marymount (1990)—104, Arizona (1997)—91
UNLV’s starters: PG Greg Anthony (12.0 ppg, 7.7 apg, 1.0 rpg); SG H. Waldman (11.7 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1.7 rpg); SF Stacey Augmon (15.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 7.3 rpg) ; PF Larry Johnson (15.7 ppg, 2.0 apg, 12.3 rpg); C Elmore Spencer (9.0 ppg, 0.7 apg, 6.3 rpg)
Loyola Marymount starters: PG Terrell Lowery (8.7 ppg, 14.0 apg, 1.0 rpg); SG Jeff Fryer (13.7 ppg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 rpg); SF Bo Kimble (24.3 ppg, 1.7 apg, 6.7 rpg); PF Chris Scott (5.3 ppg, 0.7 apg, 2.7 rpg); C Hank Gathers (32.0 ppg, 2.3 apg, 7.0 rpg)
This game started out as a game of big men vs big men. But the interior starters for both teams got into early foul trouble. As was expected this was an offensive show throughout the first half with both teams hitting over 50% of their shots. The lead shifted back and forth throughout the half. The Lions hit the final shot of the half to take a 57-56 lead to the locker room.
Loyola Marymount held a small lead for most of the first 7 minutes of the 2nd half, but the Runnin’ Rebels then went on a run to go up 86-77 with 10 minutes remaining. UNLV then kept scoring and held onto a double digit lead the remainder of the game. The Runnin’ Rebels ran away for a 111-96 victory by outshooting the Lions 53% to 46% and going +10 on the boards. UNLV’s bench scored 40 points while Loyola Marymount’s reserves scored just 18 points.
Larry Johnson had a big game for UNLV with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Greg Anthony scored 15 points and has 14 assists, Stacey Augmon had 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Melvin Love came in off the bench to tally 10 points and pull down 5 boards. Although his playing time was limited due to fouls, the Lions’ Hank Gathers had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Bo Kimble had 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Terrell Lowery hit for 14 points and dished out 15 assists. Jeff Fryer added 11 points.
UNLV’s Jerry Tarkanian said, “I told my guys at halftime that the first half proved we were in a war and that while we were up against a very strong team, the team that wanted it more was going to win. Then I just left the locker room so they could talk out what they wanted. It took us a while, but then our defense kicked in which allowed us to pull away. L J (Larry Johnson) came up huge when we really needed it.”