NCAA Game Summary - Colorado State at UNLV

Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Dejean-Jones scored a team-high 19 points to go with nine rebounds, as the UNLV Runnin' Rebels held off the Colorado State Rams, 78-70, in a Mountain West Conference clash at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Kevin Olekaibe added 15 points for UNLV (18-10, 9-6 MWC), which had lost two in a row prior to this bout. Deville Smith netted 12 points, Jelan Kendrick scored 11, Khem Birch tallied eight points and nine rebounds and Roscoe Smith pulled down 11 boards.

J.J. Avila had a game-high 22 points and Daniel Bejarano wasn't far behind with 21 as CSU (15-14, 6-10) lost for the fourth time in five games. Jon Octeus pitched in 17 points for the visitors before fouling out, while both Avila and Bejarano collected eight rebounds.

UNLV shot 47.2 percent from the field in the first half, including 6-of-15 from the 3-point range, as it carried a 41-31 lead into intermission. CSU lagged behind at a modest 40 percent shooting.

The Rams battled back after halftime, using a 15-4 run midway through the frame to bring their deficit to just one with under nine minutes to play, but they could never overtake the lead. The Rebels shot 5-of-6 at the free-throw line in the final minute to put the finishing touches on the victory.

UNLV earned a 48-35 advantage in the rebounding battle and outscored CSU in the paint, 34-22.