March 12, 2002
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Dalron Johnson scored 26 points to lead UNLV to a 96-91 victory over Arizona State in a first-round game of the National Invitational Tournament on Tuesday night.
Marcus Banks added 23 points, and Lou Kelly scored 19 for the Rebels (21-10).
Awvee Storey led Arizona State (14-15) with 29 points. Curtis Millage added 21 points and Jason Braxton 17. Chad Prewitt finished with 16 rebounds.
UNLV shot 13-for-14 from the line in the last 2 minutes to hold off a comeback bid by the Sun Devils, who rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half.
Arizona State closed within 83-81 with 1:25 remaining.
Johnson scored and, after Prewitt misfired on a 3-point attempt, made a pair of free throws to give the Rebels an 87-81 lead with 1:05 remaining.
Millage made a layup, cutting Arizona State's deficit to 87-83. Johnson made two free throws with 30.6 seconds left to restore a six-point lead.
Arizona State got no closer than three points the rest of the way.
UNLV shot 53 percent (32-of-60) from the field and 82.8 percent (24-of-29) from the line.
Arizona State shot 34-for-76 from the field (44.7 percent) and 2-for-12 from 3-point range.
UNLV will next play the winner of Wednesday's game between South Carolina and Virginia.