Pack Stops UNLV 71-70 in West Regional Play

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Pack Stops UNLV 71-70 in West Regional Play

Mar 21, 2008

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Corvallis, Ore. — What side dish is best served with crow? Hushpuppies? French fries? How about a nice Destiny salad?

Whatever it might be, send the special-delivery package here, to Gill Coliseum, in care of Nevada-Las Vegas forward Sidney Green, the man who unleashed the fury of N.C. State senior Thurl Bailey.

The day before Sunday’s second-round game in the NCAA West Region Green made gave an inspiration for the ages, saying at a Saturday press conference “Bailey hasn’t didn’t impress me that well.” Perhaps he hadn’t – right up until the time that Bailey twice out-hustled Green for rebounds in a furious flurry at the end of the game, scoring the go-ahead basket with three seconds to play.

The Pack’s defense then held on to prevent a final desperation shot by the Rebels, taking the 71-70 victory, as Jim Valvano’s team won its fifth straight game in the waning seconds or in overtime, dating back to last week’s ACC Tournament. Three of those five wins – over North Carolina, Virginia and Pepperdine – have been against teams that have ranked No. 1 in the nation at some point this season.

“We can lose, I know that,” said Bailey, who has tasted defeat 10 times with his teammates this season. “But also, I know that we can’t be beaten easily. We’ve gone too far against all the odds. I’m beginning to think it might just be in the cards for us.”

Here’s why: With 11:40 to play, the Runnin’ Rebels led 52-40, primarily on the strength of Green’s superb play. The one-time N.C. State recruit, now in his final season with Jerry Tarkanian’s Runnin’ Rebels, was masterful in staking his team to its lead with his inside scoring, finishing with a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds.

But the Wolfpack has trailed in the second half in all five of those post-season wins, so falling behind isn’t that big a deal. And it didn’t hurt that Green picked up his fourth foul with 4:32 to play.

“I didn’t call a time out and say ‘We’ve got them right where we want them,’” Valvano said of the big deficit. “All I asked the kids was just don’t quit. When we start to do things at the end of the game, you have to have a chance for things to go well. Our job is to be in a position to win.”