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NEW YORK (AP) — After getting blown out by Stanford in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, UNLV needed a bounce-back game.
Christian Wood and the Runnin' Rebels defense gave it to them 24 hours later against Temple.
Wood had 18 points and 13 rebounds and UNLV held Temple to five second-half field goals in posting a 57-50 victory in the consolation game on Saturday night.
"I felt bad after the game," Wood said of the 29-point loss to Stanford. "We had a team meeting and decided (we) had to bounce back."
UNLV started slowly, overcame an early seven-point deficit and then never lost the lead after grabbing it early in the second half.
"It's been exciting for our coaching staff to see the progression of the team," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "When you see guys every day, you see the growth. They come to practice every day. I'm pleased with where we are. I just thought we were very aggressive tonight."
Cody Doolin added 10 points and Patrick McCaw helped ice the game with a layup with 50 seconds to play as the Runnin' Rebels (3-1) held the Owls to 5 of 33 shooting in the final 20 minutes.
Wood was the catalyst in the second half, scoring 16 points and sweeping the boards with 10 rebounds. He had seven in an 11-3 spurt to open the second half that gave UNLV the lead for good.
"I just thought he was fantastic tonight," Doolin said of Wood. "I thought he let the game come tonight. (It) was just the best (I've) seen him play."
Will Cummings had 21 points for Temple (2-2). Quenton DeCosey added 11. The rest of the team scored 18 points on 5-of-33 shooting.
"We need to work a lot more on our offensive game," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "These guys are very athletic. We weren't careful enough in our execution. We need to do a better job."
Despite shooting 24.1 percent for the game, Temple had a chance to tie it late.
Down 51-43 with 3:29 to play, the Owls got within three points when Cummings capped a five-point run with a three-point play to close the gap to 51-48 with 2:13 to play.
After Doolin missed a shot inside as the shot clock expired, DeCosey missed a game-tying 3-point attempt with 1:35 left after getting a good look on the right wing.
Wood missed inside at the other end on the ensuing possession and Cummings could not convert a drive. McCaw then scored on a fast break for a 53-48 lead with 50 seconds to go. Jelan Kendrick and Doolin pushed the margin to nine points, making two free throws apiece.
Temple played much better in a loss to No. 4 Duke on Friday night, but Cummings insisted the team did not take UNLV lightly.
"We lost by 20 (to Duke), so I don't think there was a good feeling," said Cummings, who was 6 of 14 from the field.
TIP-INS
UNLV: The Runnin' Rebels didn't hold a lead in the two games in Brooklyn for almost 61 minutes games against Stanford and Temple. Once they got the lead against the Owls in the opening minute of the second half they didn't lose it.
Temple: This wasn't the Owls worst shooting game of the season. They shot 22.9 percent in a 40-37 win over American to open the season.
UP NEXT
UNLV: vs. Albany on Saturday.
Temple: vs. Penn on Tuesday.
VANISHING VAUGHN: Freshman guard Rashad Vaughn averaged 22 points in UNLV's first two games. He scored 14 in the two games in New York.
SERIES: This was the first game between Temple and UNLV since Jan. 13, 1990, when the Runnin' Rebels posted an 82-76 win. UNLV leads the series 5-1.
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