Mountain West Upset Watch, In Progress: UNLV Burying No. 12 BYU

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Tre’Von Willis had a game-high 33 points and eight assists, as UNLV dominated 12th-ranked BYU, 88-74, in a Mountain West Conference battle at Thomas & Mack Center.

Matt Shaw had 13 points and five rebounds, while Oscar Bellfield added 12 points for the Rebels (19-4, 7-2 MWC), who have won their last five games.

Jimmer Fredette had 21 points, six assists and seven rebounds, while Jonathan Tavernari added 16 points and seven boards for the Cougars (22-3, 7-2), who had lost two of four since a 15-game win streak.

Trailing by 22 points to start the second half, BYU got five straight points and made it a 74-59 game on a free throw from Fredette with just over nine minutes to play.

Willis countered with a three-ball and, after a Tyler Haws layup, then drove the lane for a layup and a 79-61 lead with 6 1/2 minutes to play.

The deficit proved too much for BYU, as UNLV continued to hold the Cougars at bay for the rest of the game.

The Rebels controlled this game from the start, as the team scored 15 of the first 17 points and held a 15-2 lead a little over five minutes in on a pair of Willis free throws.

A bit later, three balls from Bellfield, Willis and Shaw extended UNLV’s lead to 33-11 with just over nine minutes left in the first half.

BYU had an 11-1 run in the latter stages of the first half, but UNLV still took a 56-34 lead into the break.

BYU hosts Air Force next Saturday...UNLV hosts New Mexico on Wednesday...UNLV leads the all-time series, 17-14...Jackson Emery had 10 points for BYU.