UNLV Rebels hold off No. 22 San Diego State Aztecs
- UNLV beat San Diego State%2C 72-70
- The Aztecs%27 Jamaal Franklin%27s traveling violation with %3A02 left sealed the game
- Anthony Bennett had three blocks and hit four of five 3-pointers
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anthony Bennett had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and UNLV hung on in the final seconds to beat San Diego State 72-70 on Saturday night.
![UNLV forward Savon Goodman goes up for a layup as San Diego State Aztecs forward Winston Shepard defends in the first half at the Thomas and Mack Center.](/https/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/17/usp-ncaa-basketball_-san-diego-state-at-unlv-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
After a 14-0 run gave UNLV its largest lead at 67-57, the Aztecs came back and had a chance to go ahead in the final seconds, but Jamaal Franklin with whistled for a traveling violation with two seconds remaining.
Khem Birch added 16 points for the Rebels (19-7, 6-5 Mountain West).
Bennett, who had three blocks, finished 4 of 5 from 3-point range.
Chase Tapley led the Aztecs (18-7, 6-5) with 22 points and six rebounds. JJ O'Brien added 15 points, all in the first half, and 11 rebounds.
Franklin, who finished with 11 points and five steals, also missed a potential tying 3-pointer from the top left arc with 29 seconds left. After Franklin's miss, UNLV's Justin Hawkins made 1 of 2 free throws to make it 71-67.
Tapley hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 71-70. On the ensuing inbounds play, O'Brien tied up Bryce DeJean-Jones, and the Aztecs got the ball on the possession arrow. But Franklin took too many steps.