In UNLV's first game of the season in the Top 25, first-year coach David Rice had the feeling his team was going to be challenged.
The 18th-ranked Runnin' Rebels barely survived that test and could find themselves in another tight game Sunday when they visit Wichita State in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge.
UNLV (8-0) jumped into the AP poll after beating then-No. 1 North Carolina 90-80 in the Las Vegas Invitational final Nov. 26. As difficult as it was to knock off the nation's top-ranked team, Rice felt it would be just as tough to defeat a UC Santa Barbara team hoping to make the Rebels' stay in the Top 25 a brief one.
The first former UNLV player to be the team's head coach was correct in his estimation, as the Rebels won 94-88 in double overtime Wednesday.
"Being ranked for the first time this year, we knew we'd come in here with a bull's eye on our backs, and that UCSB would put forth a great effort," Rice said. "There were so many plays on both sides. We answered every challenge."
Mike Moser had a career-best 34 points and Chace Stanback scored all 19 of his after halftime, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the first overtime.
"If he doesn't make that shot, we're going home with a loss," Rice said.
It's not going to get any easier for UNLV with a game next Saturday at ninth-ranked Wisconsin and at unbeaten Illinois the following weekend.
First, the Rebels will try to get by a Wichita State team that has won its last three home games against ranked opponents.
The Shockers (4-2), picked to finish second in the MVC, have won back-to-back games since losing to then-No. 16 Alabama and Temple in overtime in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. They defeated Cal State-Fullerton 75-60 on Thursday.
Wichita State is holding opponents to averages of 54.3 points and 35.5 percent shooting in three home games this season, but slowing down UNLV's offense won't be easy.
The Rebels are averaging 83.3 points and have reached the 90-point mark in four games - they haven't done that five times in one season since 2001-02. UNLV has four players averaging in double digits, led by Moser at 17.5 points per game and Stanback at 14.9.
"They take good shots. If they get an open look, they don't pass it up," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "They got about eight (players) that can score and really hurt you in a lot of ways."
The 6-foot-8 Moser is also one of the nation's top rebounders at 13.3 per game, and UNLV is averaging a Mountain West-leading 41.8 boards.
Moser also appears to be improving his range. He was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc Wednesday after going 2 of 17 on 3-point attempts in his first seven games.
"Mike Moser works hard to be a versatile player," Rice said.
Like the Rebels, the Shockers are strong on the glass. They've outrebounded each of their opponents and are averaging 40.3 boards. Seven-footer Garrett Stutz and Carl Hall are each averaging 7.5 rebounds.
Hall had 19 points and eight rebounds Thursday, while David Kyles had 14 points and seven boards. Toure Murry was held to eight points for a second straight game but averages a team-high 13.7.
The Shockers and Rebels have split their first two meetings but haven't played since 1979.
