Seventh straight defeat extends program’s woe

SAN DIEGO — UNLV started its storied basketball program in 1958 with the Rebels losing their first nine games.

The program wouldn’t know such misery again until now, with Sunday’s 77-64 loss to San Diego State at Viejas Arena extending the Rebels’ skid to seven and setting a school record for most defeats in a season.

UNLV (10-17, 3-11 Mountain West) had lost 16 games in a season twice, in 1994-95 and 1995-96. The losing streak is the longest since that 1958-59 team needed 10 games to get its first win and finished the year 5-13.

Next up is a battle to climb out of last place in the MW. The Rebels visit Air Force at 6 p.m. PST Wednesday, and the two cellar-dwellers have identical overall and conference records. Page 5C The Rebels, meanwhile, didn’t make life easy for San Diego State (16-10, 8-6). UNLV, which trailed by as many as 17 points, got to within six on Jovan Mooring’s off-balance 3-pointer with 4:42 left. But then the Aztecs’ Trey Kell knocked down a stepback 19-footer as the shot clock was winding down to extend the lead back to eight points. UNLV never threatened again. Mooring led the Rebels with 26 points, and Uche Ofoegbu had 13. Malik Pope led San Diego State with 17 points, and Jeremy Hemsley and Matt Shrigley each scored 16.

UNLV guard Jalen Poyser didn’t play because he broke a team rule, coach Marvin Menzies said. Forward Troy Baxter Jr. didn’t play and is out an extended period because of a foot injury. Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter. ■ KEY: ■ NEXT: