Las Vegas, NV – Tony Snell hit five 3-pointers en route to 21 points, 10 of which came in a pivotal second-half run, to help the 15th-ranked New Mexico Lobos beat UNLV, 63-56, in the Mountain West Conference title game.
Kendall Williams had 12 points and seven assists for top-seeded New Mexico (29-5), which captured its second straight tournament crown. Hugh Greenwood and Cameron Bairstow both logged nine points and seven rebounds.
"I think we deserve a No. 2 seed or higher (in the NCAA Tournament) 'cause we definitely proved ourselves all year. That's what I think," Snell said.
Bryce Dejean-Jones also drained five 3-pointers, pacing UNLV with 19 points.
Anthony Bennett posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds for the third-seeded Runnin' Rebels (25-9).
"Our program, our team, is bitterly disappointed with the result. We felt like we put ourselves in a great position," said UNLV head coach Dave Rice.
A back-and-forth opening half ended with New Mexico clinging to a 34-32 lead.
UNLV continued to hang around in the second half and trailed 46-45 after a Katin Reinhardt free throw midway through the frame. But Snell provided all the offense during a 10-2 surge that put the Lobos up 56-47 with just under four minutes to play.
Dejean-Jones responded with back-to-back threes before Snell knocked down a trey for a 59-53 New Mexico lead with about a minute left.
The Rebels then missed three straight shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, before Williams put the game away with two free throws and a spinning slam.
Game Notes
New Mexico held UNLV to 31 percent shooting in the second half ... The Lobos shot 46 percent for the game ... Reinhardt had 11 points.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.