Dedan Thomas Jr. had 23 points and Luis Rodriguez made all six of his free-throw attempts in the final 1:03 to lead UNLV to a 66-60 win Saturday over No. 22 Colorado State at Las Vegas.
Thomas made all 12 of his free-throw attempts in the game.
Rodriguez, who finished with 14 points, was 8 of 8 at the foul line.
UNLV (16-10, 9-5 Mountain West) has won seven of its last eight games.
Colorado State (20-8, 8-7) lost to New Mexico and UNLV on the road this week after being ranked for the first time in three weeks.
Saturday’s game had 10 lead changes and nine ties.
Neither team led by more than four points in the second half until Thomas made two free throws with 3:46 left to put the Rebels ahead 54-49.
Josiah Strong made a 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining to cut UNLV’s lead to 56-54.
Thomas made two free throws 32 seconds later.
After Colorado State’s Patrick Cartier missed a 3-pointer, Rodriguez grabbed the rebound for UNLV and was fouled.
Rodriguez made both free throws with 1:03 left to give UNLV a 60-54 lead.
Isaiah Stevens, who led Colorado State with 18 points, made two free throws with 58 seconds left.
Rodriguez answered with another two free throws with 32 seconds remaining.
Stevens made a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to cut the lead to 62-59.
Rodriguez again made two free throws, giving UNLV a 64-59 lead with 15 seconds remaining.
Joel Scott was fouled with 8 seconds left and he made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 64-60.
Thomas then made two free throws with 7 seconds remaining to close the scoring.
UNLV starting forward Rob Whaley Jr. was aided off the court with an injury to his left lower leg with 18:41 left.
He did not return and finished with six points and three rebounds.
Colorado State did not have a player score in double figures until Stevens made a jumper with 12:51 left to tie the game at 40.
Stevens reached 11 points on the shot.
–Field Level Media