LAS VEGAS -- The plan for the BYU men's basketball team (22-3, 7-2 MWC) prior to Saturday's game against UNLV (19-4, 7-2 MWC) was to get an early start so that it didn't have to play catch-up for the rest of the game. Boy did that go wrong.

The Rebels started the game on a tear, hitting nine of their first 13 3-point attempts before defeating the Cougars 88-74. UNLV entered the game shooting only 31 percent from 3-point range.

When the Rebels visited Provo, a game the Cougars won, 77-73, they scored most of their points inside getting 34 points in the paint. Combined with UNLV's long-range shooting percentage, the Cougars felt shutting down the middle and forcing the Rebels to shoot outside would give them a clear advantage. That advantage was nowhere to be found Saturday afternoon.

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Willis leads UNLV over No. 12 BYU, 88-74

Junior guard Tre'Von Willis had a career-high 33 points to lead UNLV to an 88-74 victory over No. 12 BYU on Saturday that pulled the Runnin' Rebel into a first-place tie with the Cougars in the Mountain West Conference.

"They got a lot of buckets inside at our place," said Noah Hartsock, who finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks, in an interview with KSL Newsradio. "We focused on keeping them out (and making them) shoot from outside. But they shot very well tonight. Everyone stepped up for their team and made big shots."

UNLV started the game with a 20-4 run and led the Cougars by as many as 29 points in the first half before heading into halftime up 22 at 56-34.

"When you dig yourself a 30-point hole it's hard to get back," Hartsock said.

BYU Head Coach Dave Rose said it just wasn't his team's night.

Rose said things started out just as poorly for his team on the offensive end as well.

"Offensively, we weren't able to get some baskets," Rose said, noting that it is easy for players to get discouraged when they miss a few shots early. "I thought that we went too long without being able to score."

Despite the large deficit at halftime, the Cougars were able to battle back in the second half, and cut the lead to as little as 13 points. BYU made several runs, but was unable to slow down The Rebels' offense enough to get back in the game.

BYU guard Jimmer Fredette has been getting a lot of publicity recently and many have said he is the front-runner for MWC Player of the Year honors. UNLV star Tre'Von Willis took exception to that fact and stole the show in the Thomas & Mack Center. Willis recorded a career-high 33 points to go with five rebounds and eight assists and had his way with just about any Cougar who tried to guard him with an array of drives to the basket, midrange and 3-point shots.

Fredette led the Cougars in scoring despite a poor shooting night from the field (4-of-15). He did his damage at the free throw line, making 11 of his 13 attempts to finish with 21 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists.

The Cougars' best scoring option Saturday was clearly former Las Vegas area high school standout Jonathan Tavernari, who scored 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He also collected seven rebounds and two assists. The senior led the Cougars' campaign to get back in the game, but didn't get much help outside of Fredette.

Chris Miles had three fouls in zero points in 16 minutes. Tyler Haws scored just five points on 2 of 8 shooting in 29 minutes.

The BYU loss drops the Cougars into a three-way tie for first place in the MWC standings with UNLV and New Mexico, who beat San Diego State in overtime Saturday. Both BYU and UNLV will have to face the Lobos again before the end of the season.

The Cougars will have plenty of time to reflect on the loss. They get a week off before hosting Air Force next Saturday in the Marriott Center.

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