Trojans Get Run By Rebels In Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Oscar Bellfield scored 14 points to lead UNLV over USC 66-55 in the Las Vegas Invitational Friday night.

Mike Moser had 10 points and 13 rebounds and Justin Hawkins added 10 points for the Rebels (6-0), who will play either No. 1 North Carolina or South Carolina in Saturday night's championship game.

Byron Wesley and Aaron Fuller each finished with 16 points to lead USC (2-4). Wesley had five rebounds and Fuller fouled out with 6:06 left. Maurice Jones had 11 for the Trojans.

The Rebels were technically the visiting team at the Orleans Arena, which is about five miles away from their home arena, the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels won despite USC shooting 52 percent from the field. UNLV shot 41 percent but outrebounded the Trojans 34-24.

Fuller was whistled for his fourth foul with 9:17 left with the game tied at 46. The Rebels scored the next six points and for their largest lead to that point, 52-46 with 7:38 left.

UNLV later built 10-point leads three times and had its largest by game's end.

The Trojans lost at home to Cal Poly 42-36, but rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat Morgan State 65-62 to end a three-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, the Rebels easily beat Morgan State 92-55 and Cal Poly 75-52.

Neither team could pull away in the first half with 10 lead changes and six ties. UNLV had the half's largest lead at 29-24 with 5:13 until halftime, but the Trojans rallied to tie it 31-31 at the break.