LAS VEGAS, Nev. --- UNLV broke open the game in the first 10 minutes of the second half as the 24th-ranked Runnin' Rebels downed UC Irvine, 85-57, before 13,876 at Tarkanian Court, Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday night.
UNLV led 34-26 at halftime and opened the second half with a 22-10 run to take a 56-36 lead on a free throw by Mike Moser with 10:28 remaining.
The Rebels led by 20-plus points over the final 8:16 in improving to 4-1 on the season as UCI lost its fourth straight in falling to 3-5.
Moser and Anthony Bennett led UNLV with 19 points each, and Moser added a game-high nine rebounds while Katin Reinhardt scored 13 points.
Daman Starring led the Anteaters with 18 points and Adam Folker added 12 points. Mike Best had a team-high six boards for UCI, which was outrebounded 44-39 in the game.
UNLV hit 24 of 35 free throws in the contest and the Anteaters were 15 of 23. UCI had 15 turnovers to just seven by the Rebels. UNLV outscored the Anteaters on second-chance points, 27-9.
"That was a tough matchup for us," UCI head coach Russell Turner said. "I give UNLV credit, they played at a high level defensively.
"I knew it would be a tough environment, but we looked intimidated and tentative for the second straight game, and I am surprised by our lack of aggressiveness. We have practiced well, but it has not carried over to the games."
UCI hosts San Diego Christian Tuesday night at 7:00 in the Bren Center.
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