LAS VEGAS (AP)—UNLV’s Wink Adams had a game-high 19 points Saturday night and Joe Darger added 18 points in a 71-58 victory against North Carolina A&T.
UNLV (4-0), which was playing its fourth game in seven days to open the season, needed a 12-0 run midway through the second half to distance itself from the upset-minded Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school.
North Carolina A&T trailed by double digits early but chipped away at the deficit until it led 45-44 with 11:51 to play.
UNLV answered by scoring the next 12 points and never trailed again. Reserve guard Mareceo Rutledge had five points in the outburst, including a 3-pointer that extended the lead to 53-45.
The Rebels led by six or more points the rest of the game.
UNLV only shot 37 percent from the field, connecting on just 11 of 32 on 3-pointers.
Darger hit 6 of his 11 3-point shots. Rene Rougeau had six points and a team-high seven rebounds.
UNLV led by as many as 12 points in the first half as Adams and Darger each made a trio of 3-pointers in the first 13 minutes. But North Carolina A&T went on a 16-8 run to cut the deficit to 33-29 by halftime.
North Carolina A&T (2-2) got 15 points and seven rebounds from center Thomas Coleman, who connected on 7 of 8 fields goals.
Ed Jones had a team-high 18 points for the Aggies, and Nicholas Wilson added 11.
