LAS VEGAS - Mountain West 2, Missouri Valley 0.

Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team led 18-6 at UNLV Saturday night, but couldn't hold off the Runnin' Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center in their first road game of the season. UNLV got 25 from Tre'Von Willis and shot an incredible 77.3 percent in the second half on the way to a 78-69 victory.

Tony Freeman led three Salukis in double figures with 14 points. Center Nick Evans had 12 and John Freeman had 11 for SIU (2-1), which gets a week off before hosting Illinois-Chicago.

UNLV (3-0) won its third game of the year at home and moved to 3-1 all-time against SIU.

For more on this story, see Sunday's editions.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087