No. 20 Utah State beats UNLV 87-86 on a 5-point play with 8.4 seconds left
LAS VEGAS (AP) Great Osobor made two free throws with 8.4 seconds left to complete a five-point play for No. 20 Utah State's only lead of the game Saturday and allow the Aggies to escape with an 87-86 victory over UNLV.
UNLV's Luis Rodriguez made two free throws for an 86-82 lead with 14.3 seconds remaining for an apparent two-possession lead. But Darius Brown II made a 3-pointer and UNLV’s Kalib Boone was called for a foul away from the ball, sending Osobor to the line. He missed what would've been a game-tying layup on the previous possession.
But then Osobor calmly made both free throws for the winning points.
“It shows he's maturing,” Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle said. “A year ago, two years ago, I don't know if he would've done that. He's grown physically, spiritually, mentally, all of it.”
Osobor said a timeout by UNLV before his free throws “helped me calm down.”
“When I was at the line, Coach Sprinkle was like, ‘You’re built for this,'” Osobor said. “Everyone was like, ‘Go win this one.’ I calmed down and I prayed real quick.”
After Osobor made the foul shots, UNLV's Dedan Thomas Jr. missed a jumper at the buzzer.
“You're going to win most of those games," UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. "There's nothing to say after a game like that. There's nothing you can tell a player.”
Osobor had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Aggies (16-1, 4-0 Mountain West), who extended their winning streak to 15 games, the longest active one in the nation. Ian Martinez also scored 24 points.
Rodriguez led UNLV (8-7, 1-2) with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Boone scored 18 points.
UNLV took the lead right away, going ahead as much as 58-45 early in the second half, but the Aggies didn't go away. They went on a 10-2 run to get to within 64-61 midway through the half and set the stage for a tense finish.
Brown made a 3-pointer and Mason Falslev a layup to bring Utah State to within 83-82 with 31 seconds left. UNLV's Thomas made one of two free throws with 27 seconds remaining to extend the lead to two points.
That lead became four points with 14.3 seconds left, the game seemingly all but over.
“It felt like they dominated the first 39 minutes and 51 seconds,” Sprinkle said. “I kept looking up, ‘I can't believe we're down five. I can't believe we're down six.' I couldn't believe we were down seven at halftime. That could've very easily been a 20-point game at halftime the way they were playing and shooting the basketball."
THE BIG PICTURE
Utah State: Osobor entered the game averaging 18.6 points and 9.4 rebounds, but was held to four points and two rebounds in the first half. He responded over the final 20 minutes by totaling 20 points and 12 rebounds, that production giving the Aggies a chance to win at the end on his two free throws.
UNLV: The Rebels should've walked out of their arena with their second victory over a ranked opponent. They routed then-No. 8 Creighton 79-64 on Dec. 13 and entered Saturday with four victories in five games. This loss could define UNLV's season by either galvanizing the team or sending it on a downward spiral.
UP NEXT
Utah State: At New Mexico on Tuesday.
UNLV: At Boise State on Tuesday
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Great Osobor vs. Kalib Boone (Runnin' Rebels gains possession) | |||
19:36 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
19:34 | Luis Rodriguez offensive rebound | |||
19:32 | Justin Webster misses three point jump shot | |||
19:30 | Luis Rodriguez offensive rebound | |||
19:12 | +2 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
18:59 | Darius Brown II turnover (bad pass) (Dedan Thomas Jr. steals) | |||
18:54 | +2 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes two point layup | 0-4 | |
18:33 | Darius Brown II misses two point jump shot | |||
18:31 | Justin Webster defensive rebound | |||
18:28 | Mason Falslev shooting foul | |||
18:28 | +1 | Justin Webster makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-5 | |
18:28 | +1 | Justin Webster makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-6 | |
18:10 | Ian Martinez misses two point layup | |||
18:08 | Keylan Boone defensive rebound | |||
17:56 | Kalib Boone turnover (lost ball) (Isaac Johnson steals) | |||
17:41 | Mason Falslev misses three point jump shot | |||
17:39 | Justin Webster defensive rebound | |||
17:16 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
17:14 | Great Osobor defensive rebound | |||
17:07 | +2 | Mason Falslev makes two point layup (Great Osobor assists) | 2-6 | |
16:59 | +2 | Luis Rodriguez makes two point jump shot (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 2-8 | |
16:43 | Great Osobor turnover (lost ball) (Kalib Boone steals) | |||
16:38 | +2 | Luis Rodriguez makes two point layup | 2-10 | |
16:38 | Darius Brown II shooting foul (Luis Rodriguez draws the foul) | |||
16:38 | Luis Rodriguez misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
16:38 | Isaac Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:18 | +2 | Great Osobor makes two point layup (Darius Brown II assists) | 4-10 | |
16:07 | Justin Webster turnover (bad pass) (Isaac Johnson steals) | |||
16:00 | Mason Falslev misses two point jump shot | |||
15:58 | Mason Falslev offensive rebound | |||
15:58 | Keylan Boone shooting foul (Mason Falslev draws the foul) | |||
15:58 | TV timeout | |||
15:58 | +1 | Mason Falslev makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-10 | |
15:58 | +1 | Mason Falslev makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-10 | |
15:43 | Isaac Johnson shooting foul (Rob Whaley Jr. draws the foul) | |||
15:43 | +1 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-11 | |
15:43 | +1 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-12 | |
15:34 | Shane Nowell shooting foul (Darius Brown II draws the foul) | |||
15:34 | +1 | Darius Brown II makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-12 | |
15:34 | +1 | Darius Brown II makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-12 | |
15:18 | Mason Falslev personal foul (Luis Rodriguez draws the foul) | |||
15:15 | +2 | Jackie Johnson III makes two point jump shot (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 8-14 | |
14:57 | Ian Martinez misses three point jump shot | |||
14:55 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
14:40 | +2 | Luis Rodriguez makes two point jump shot (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 8-16 | |
14:28 | Great Osobor turnover (traveling) | |||
14:10 | +3 | Jackie Johnson III makes three point jump shot (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 8-19 | |
14:04 | Aggies 30 second timeout | |||
13:42 | +2 | Josh Uduje makes two point jump shot | 10-19 | |
13:37 | Keylan Boone personal foul (Josh Uduje draws the foul) | |||
13:35 | +3 | Ian Martinez makes three point jump shot (Darius Brown II assists) | 13-19 | |
13:20 | Kalifa Sakho shooting foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
13:20 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-20 | |
13:20 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-21 | |
13:00 | Josh Uduje misses three point jump shot | |||
12:59 | Kalifa Sakho offensive rebound | |||
12:56 | +2 | Kalifa Sakho makes two point layup | 15-21 | |
12:20 | Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot | |||
12:18 | Kalifa Sakho defensive rebound | |||
12:09 | Great Osobor misses three point jump shot | |||
12:07 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:01 | Brooklyn Hicks misses two point jump shot | |||
11:59 | Rob Whaley Jr. offensive rebound | |||
11:58 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup | 15-23 | |
11:34 | +2 | Josh Uduje makes two point jump shot (Ian Martinez assists) | 17-23 | |
11:19 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses two point dunk | |||
11:17 | Kalib Boone offensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Kalifa Sakho shooting foul (Kalib Boone draws the foul) | |||
11:16 | TV timeout | |||
11:16 | +1 | Kalib Boone makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-24 | |
11:16 | +1 | Kalib Boone makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-25 | |
11:04 | Josh Uduje misses two point jump shot | |||
11:02 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | +3 | Luis Rodriguez makes three point jump shot (Rob Whaley Jr. assists) | 17-28 | |
10:24 | Karson Templin misses two point layup | |||
10:24 | Karson Templin offensive rebound | |||
10:24 | +2 | Karson Templin makes two point layup | 19-28 | |
10:24 | Dedan Thomas Jr. shooting foul (Karson Templin draws the foul) | |||
10:24 | Karson Templin misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
10:24 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup | 19-30 | |
9:43 | +3 | Ian Martinez makes three point jump shot | 22-30 | |
9:14 | Justin Webster misses three point jump shot | |||
9:12 | Ian Martinez defensive rebound | |||
9:05 | Kalib Boone personal foul (Ian Martinez draws the foul) | |||
8:55 | +3 | Ian Martinez makes three point jump shot (Karson Templin assists) | 25-30 | |
8:39 | +2 | Keylan Boone makes two point layup (Justin Webster assists) | 25-32 | |
8:39 | Karson Templin shooting foul (Keylan Boone draws the foul) | |||
8:39 | +1 | Keylan Boone makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-33 | |
8:24 | +3 | Ian Martinez makes three point jump shot (Isaac Johnson assists) | 28-33 | |
8:02 | Justin Webster misses three point jump shot | |||
8:00 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | TV timeout | |||
7:45 | +3 | Isaac Johnson makes three point jump shot (Great Osobor assists) | 31-33 | |
7:27 | Isaac Johnson shooting foul (Kalib Boone draws the foul) | |||
7:27 | +1 | Kalib Boone makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-34 | |
7:27 | +1 | Kalib Boone makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-35 | |
7:05 | Great Osobor misses two point hook shot | |||
7:03 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup | 31-37 | |
6:32 | Great Osobor misses two point dunk | |||
6:30 | Kalib Boone defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | +2 | Justin Webster makes two point layup | 31-39 | |
6:11 | +2 | Darius Brown II makes two point layup | 33-39 | |
5:42 | Ian Martinez shooting foul (Rob Whaley Jr. draws the foul) | |||
5:42 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:42 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:42 | Karson Templin defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | Josh Uduje misses two point jump shot | |||
5:26 | Great Osobor offensive rebound | |||
5:24 | Rob Whaley Jr. shooting foul (Great Osobor draws the foul) | |||
5:24 | +1 | Great Osobor makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-39 | |
5:24 | +1 | Great Osobor makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-39 | |
5:11 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Josh Uduje steals) | |||
4:58 | +3 | Josh Uduje makes three point jump shot (Ian Martinez assists) | 38-39 | |
4:38 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
4:36 | Luis Rodriguez offensive rebound | |||
4:34 | +2 | Luis Rodriguez makes two point layup | 38-41 | |
4:21 | Ian Martinez turnover (lost ball) (Luis Rodriguez steals) | |||
4:17 | Ian Martinez shooting foul (Luis Rodriguez draws the foul) | |||
4:17 | +1 | Luis Rodriguez makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-42 | |
4:17 | +1 | Luis Rodriguez makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-43 | |
3:50 | Great Osobor turnover (lost ball) (Kalib Boone steals) | |||
3:50 | TV timeout | |||
3:33 | Kalib Boone misses two point hook shot | |||
3:31 | Karson Templin defensive rebound | |||
3:25 | Darius Brown II turnover (bad pass) (Kalib Boone steals) | |||
3:20 | Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot | |||
3:18 | Josh Uduje defensive rebound | |||
3:12 | Josh Uduje turnover (bad pass) | |||
2:55 | Kalib Boone misses two point layup | |||
2:53 | Karson Templin defensive rebound | |||
2:33 | Josh Uduje misses two point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
2:22 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Josh Uduje defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | Javon Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
2:12 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point dunk (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 38-45 | |
1:33 | Rob Whaley Jr. blocks Darius Brown II's two point layup | |||
1:31 | Jackie Johnson III defensive rebound | |||
1:24 | +2 | Kalib Boone makes two point dunk (Rob Whaley Jr. assists) | 38-47 | |
0:48 | +2 | Josh Uduje makes two point layup | 40-47 | |
0:40 | Runnin' Rebels 30 second timeout | |||
0:21 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:19 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Great Osobor misses two point hook shot | |||
0:00 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |