The University of La Verne fought to hang with Division I power UNLV through the first 25 minutes of action until the Runnin' Rebels took control to pull away for a 91-44 triumph over the Leopards at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
La Verne remained within 15 points with 14 minutes to play before the Rebels - ranked No. 20 in the latest Associated Press Division I Top 25 Poll - closed the game on a 44-14 run.
Vince Bauer had 16 points and Jake Veith added 11 for the Leopards.
The Runnin' Rebels started the game on a 15-2 run, but the Leopards fought back to get within six points on a three-pointer from Vieth with 12:26 remaining in the first half to cut the deficit to 18-12.
The Leopards (1-5) stayed within 10 points until the six-minute mark when a Bauer field goal cut the UNLV margin to 29-19. UNLV began to stretch its lead in the latter stages of the first half en route to its 38-21 cushion at the break.
A layup from Bauer closed the gap to 47-32 before the Rebels went on a 13-0 run to go up 60-32 with 9:04 remaining. UNLV would outscore the Leopards 31-12 over the final nine minutes.
UNLV (8-1) was led by freshman Anthony Bennett, who scored 27 points along with a game-high 14 rebounds. Bennett has led the Runnin' Rebels (8-1) in scoring in eight of their nine games and each of their last seven.Katin Reinhardt added 14 points, while Savon Goodman chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds off the bench for UNLV.
Jourdan Simmonds added 9 points for La Verne. Both Bauer and Alonzo Young each collected a team-high 4 rebounds.
The Rebels enjoyed a prohibitive 49-23 rebound advantage on the night and held La Verne to 31.4% shooting from the field and 20% percent from three-point range.
The contest was the ninth overall in the series between the schools but the first in nearly a half-century. La Verne and UNLV played a home-and-home in 1962 and 1964 and last met 47 years ago, in 1965.
The Leopards continue action on Saturday as it heads back to California to face yet another Division I opponent as it faces Cal State Bakersfield in a second straight road contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
