The postgame free-for-all distracted from an outstanding UNLV comeback victory, as the Rebels locked up the MWC's automatic NCAA Tournament berth for the second-straight year here.

This game mirrored exactly the BYU-UNLV finale a year ago. BYU shot out to a big lead in the first half and then ran out of gas in the final 20 minutes as UNLV raced past them to the delight of the home crowd.

Joe Darger hit a pair of 3-point buckets during a Rebel comeback as UNLV staged an electrifying 12-1 run after halftime to overtake the Cougars. Where Kevin Kruger did the damage a year ago, this time Wink Adams scored 14 straight points at one stage of the second half to cement the win.

BYU had no answer in the second half. Where a year ago Michael Rose lit up the Rebels early, this time the Cougars used bombs from Jonathan Tavernari, Cummard, Sam Burgess and Chris Collinsworth to push BYU to an 11-point lead early.

Then it abandoned them.

Just like a year ago against UNLV here and against Xavier at Lexington, Ky., in postseason play the Cougars' offense chugged to a halt in the second half.

Said Cummard, "They would throw it up and go get it. We had no answer for it. Didn't play with enough energy. Congrats to them."

Rose appropriately gave all the credit to Lon Kruger's team.

"I think the energy level the second half was the difference," the Cougars' coach said. "They out-rebounded us, got some offensive rebounds. They were really good. They played great and deserved to win."

The Cougars left Las Vegas with a 27-7 mark and a national ranking. We'll find out what the NCAA makes of their loss to the Rebels late this afternoon when NCAA berths are announced.

Rose has been in this situation before, leaving Vegas and awaiting word from the lords of the NCAA.

The second-half futility?

"I think the feeling I have right now is similar, yeah," said Rose.

So was the sideshow after the final buzzer.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com