This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Memo to Mountain West Conference basketball teams: If you're going to beat Air Force by 36 points, don't rub the Falcons' face in it.
It could mean trouble when you meet again.
UNLV learned that lesson the hard way this week, just weeks after it defeated Air Force, 100-64, at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels were running, dunking and shooting 3-pointers until the end of the game. Two starters were on the floor when it mercifully ended.
On Tuesday night, though, the Falcons got payback. They overcame a slow start and scored a 79-74 win over UNLV at Clune Arena. They outfought, out-hustled and outworked the more talented Rebels.
Afterward, jubilant coach Dave Pilipovich made it clear Air Force was motivated by UNLV's actions during its earlier victory.
"Our execution, at times, wasn't great," he said. "But if you watched the game, which team was tougher? Which team had more heart? …
"Every dog has his day. I've been in this business 30 years. I didn't forget [and] our team didn't forget. Our guys fought. I think, every loose ball, we got. I don't forget — 36 points. I don't forget."
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a handful of UNLV players got the Rebels' night off to an odd start.
About an hour before tipoff, a swearing-in ceremony was being held for a group of new cadets. Rebel players were warming up on the other end of the court.
Assistant head coach Ryan Miller asked them to stop for a moment, out of respect. But a few players kept dribbling and shooting. When Miller tried to take the ball from one, he bounced it behind his back and held onto it.
According to the newspaper, Miller shook his head and walked away.
See you again, Part 2
Even though Fresno State was extremely short-handed against Nevada because of injuries and illness, the visiting Bulldogs took the Wolf Pack to overtime before losing, 77-72.
Apparently, however, Fresno coach Rodney Terry isn't into moral victories.
Asked about giving credit to Nevada and star center Cameron Oliver, who finished with 20 points and a conference-record 24 rebounds, Terry declined.
"No credit," he said. "They had the size on us today because we don't have our guys, but that's OK. We'll bounce back. We competed hard. We left it on the floor. Who knows, [if] we get a chance to play these guys again and if we're mended the right way, we'll see what happens."
Fresno State and Nevada have been rivals for years.
The bad feelings erupted on the baseball field twice — in 2007 and 2015 — when brawls resulted in player ejections and suspensions.
This year?
Terry might get his wish. If Fresno and Nevada finish fourth and fifth in the regular-season standings — a distinct possibility — they will face each other in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.
Twitter: @sluhm —
MWC standings
W L Pct W L Pct
San Diego St. 12 1 .923 19 7 .731
New Mexico 9 4 .692 16 10 .615
Fresno St. 8 5 .615 17 9 .654
Nevada 8 5 .615 16 9 .640
Boise St. 8 6 .571 17 10 .630
Colorado St. 6 7 .462 14 12 .538
UNLV 6 8 .429 15 12 .556
Utah St. 5 8 .385 13 11 .542
Wyoming 5 9 .357 12 15 .444
Air Force 4 10 .286 13 14 .481
San Jose St. 3 11 .214 8 18 .308