1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team

The 1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in NCAA Division I men's competition in the 1990–91 season. The Runnin' Rebels, coached by Jerry Tarkanian, entered the season as defending national champions and entered the 1991 NCAA tournament unbeaten, but lost in the national semifinal to eventual champions Duke when Anderson Hunt's desperation three in the final seconds bounced off the backboard and into the hands of a Duke player, Bobby Hurley, ending a 45-game winning streak that dated back to the previous season. They had been the last team to finish the regular season unbeaten before St. Joseph's did it in 2004. They were the last team to enter the NCAA tournament unbeaten until Wichita State did it in 2014, Kentucky in 2015, and Gonzaga in 2021.

1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball
Big West tournament champions
Big West Regular Season Champions
ConferenceBig West Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record34–1 (18–0 Big West)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaThomas and Mack Center
1990–91 Big West men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 UNLV18–0 1.00034–1  .971
No. 15 New Mexico State15–3 .83323–6  .793
Pacific9–9 .50014–15  .483
UC Santa Barbara8–10 .44414–15  .483
Utah State8–10 .44411–17  .393
Cal State Fullerton7–11 .38914–14  .500
Fresno State7–11 .38914–16  .467
Long Beach State7–11 .38911–17  .393
UC Irvine6–12 .33311–19  .367
San Jose State5–13 .2787–20  .259
† 1991 Big West tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The team played its home games in the Thomas & Mack Center, and was a member of the Big West Conference.

UNLV’s semi-final loss in the NCAA tournament brought an end to their astounding 45-game win streak. That is the fourth-longest consecutive-game win streak in NCAA Division 1 basketball history, and the longest win streak since the longest one ever (by UCLA) ended in 1974.[1]


They are often called the greatest college basketball team to not win the championship.[2]

Roster
1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
F 4 Larry Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg) Sr Dallas, TX
G 12 Anderson Hunt 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) Jr Detroit, MI
G 13 Travis Bice 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)155 lb (70 kg) Jr Simi Valley, CA
G 15 Bryan Emerzian 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)160 lb (73 kg) Jr Waukegan, IL
C 24 Elmore Spencer 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)265 lb (120 kg) Jr Atlanta, GA
G 30 Dave Rice 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) Sr Claremont, CA
F 32 Stacey Augmon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) Sr Pasadena, CA
G/F 33 Barry Young 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg) Sr Ellicott City, MD
F/C 44 George Ackles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS Sr Pittsburgh, PA
G 50 Greg Anthony 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) Sr Las Vegas, NV
F 53 Chris Jeter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg) Sr San Diego, CA
G Sean Watkins
—
—
 So  
F Byron Wesley
—
—
 Sr  
G Dan Bisek
—
—
 Sr  
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    1990-91 UNLV Roster and Stats

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Regular Season
    Dec 1, 1990*
    		 No. 1 vs. UAB W 109–68  1–0
    		  26 – Johnson    –      –    BC Place (7,963)
    Vancouver, BC
    Dec 7, 1990*
    		 No. 1 at Nevada W 131–81  2–0
    		    –      –      –    Lawlor Events Center (11,090)
    Reno, NV
    Dec 15, 1990*
    		 No. 1 vs. No. 21 Michigan State W 95–75  3–0
    		  35 – Johnson    –      –    The Palace of Auburn Hills (21,454)
    Auburn Hills, MI
    Dec 19, 1990*
    		 No. 1 No. 25 Princeton W 69–35  4–0
    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (17,778)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Dec 22, 1990*
    		 No. 1 Florida State W 101–69  5–0
    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (17,133)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Dec 30, 1990
    		 No. 1 at Pacific W 92–72  6–0
    (1–0)    		    –      –      –    Alex G. Spanos Center (6,150)
    Stockton, CA
    Jan 2, 1991*
    		 No. 1 at James Madison W 89–65  7–0
    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (17,473)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 4, 1991
    		 No. 1 Cal State Fullerton W 98–67  8–0
    (2–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (18,995)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 7, 1991
    		 No. 1 San Jose State W 95–63  9–0
    (3–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (17,718)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 9, 1991
    		 No. 1 Utah State W 124–93  10–0
    (4–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (18,792)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 12, 1991
    		 No. 1 at Fresno State W 117–91  11–0
    (5–0)    		    –      –      –    Selland Arena (10,159)
    Fresno, CA
    Jan 17, 1991
    		 No. 1 at UC Irvine W 117–76  12–0
    (6–0)    		    –      –      –    Bren Events Center (5,005)
    Irvine, CA
    Jan 19, 1991
    		 No. 1 Long Beach State W 114–63  13–0
    (7–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (19,444)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 21, 1991
    		 No. 1 at UC Santa Barbara W 88–71  14–0
    (8–0)    		    –      –      –    The Thunderdome (6,000)
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Jan 26, 1991*
    		 No. 1 at Louisville W 97–85  15–0
    		    –      –      –    Freedom Hall (19,465)
    Louisville, KY
    Jan 28, 1991
    		 No. 1 at Utah State W 126–83  16–0
    (9–0)    		    –      –      –    Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (9,797)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 31, 1991
    		 No. 1 at San Jose State W 88–64  17–0
    (10–0)    		    –      –      –    The Event Center (4,867)
    San Jose, CA
    Feb 3, 1991*
    		 No. 1 Rutgers W 115–73  18–0
    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (18,954)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 7, 1991
    		 No. 1 Fresno State W 113–64  19–0
    (11–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (18,883)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 10, 1991*
    		 No. 1 at No. 2 Arkansas W 112–105[3][4]  20–0
    		  31 – Augmon  14 – Johnson  10 – Anthony  Barnhill Arena (9,640)
    Fayetteville, AR
    Feb 14, 1991
    		 No. 1 UC Santa Barbara W 98–71  21–0
    (12–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (19,147)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 16, 1991
    		 No. 1 No. 12 New Mexico State W 86–74  22–0
    (13–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (18,902)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 18, 1991
    		 No. 1 at Long Beach State W 122–75  23–0
    (14–0)    		    –      –      –    Long Beach Arena (12,007)
    Long Beach, CA
    Feb 21, 1991
    		 No. 1 Pacific W 80–59  24–0
    (15–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (19,568)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 23, 1991
    		 No. 1 UC Irvine W 114–86  25–0
    (16–0)    		    –      –      –    Thomas & Mack Center (19,826)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Feb 25, 1991
    		 No. 1 at No. 15 New Mexico State W 86–74[5]  26–0
    (17–0)    		  24 – Augmon    –      –    Pan American Center (13,007)
    Las Cruces, NM
    Mar 2, 1991
    		 No. 1 at Cal State Fullerton W 104–83  27–0
    (18–0)    		    –      –      –    Titan Gym (4,032)
    Fullerton, CA
    Big West tournament
    Mar 8, 1991*
    		 (1) No. 1 at (8) Long Beach State
    Quarterfinals    		 W 49–29  28–0
    		    –      –      –    Long Beach Arena (11,760)
    Long Beach, CA
    Mar 9, 1991*
    		 (1) No. 1 vs. (5) UC Santa Barbara
    Semifinals    		 W 95–66  29–0
    		    –      –      –    Long Beach Arena (11,283)
    Long Beach, CA
    Mar 10, 1991*
    		 (1) No. 1 vs. (7) Fresno State
    Championship    		 W 98–74  30–0
    		    –      –      –    Long Beach Arena (11,045)
    Long Beach, CA
    NCAA Tournament
    Mar 15, 1991*
    		 (1 W) No. 1 vs. (16 W) Montana
    First Round    		 W 99–65  31–0
    		  23 – Johnson  9 – Johnson  9 – Anthony  McKale Center (13,367)
    Tucson, AZ
    Mar 17, 1991*
    		 (1 W) No. 1 vs. (8 W) Georgetown
    Second Round    		 W 62–54[6]  32–0
    		  20 – Johnson  10 – Tied  4 – Anthony  McKale Center (13,497)
    Tucson, AZ
    March 21, 1991*
     CBS    		 (1 W) No. 1 vs. (4 W) No. 10 Utah
    Sweet Sixteen    		 W 83–66  33–0
    		  23 – Johnson  13 – Johnson  10 – Anthony  Kingdome (22,628)
    Seattle, WA
    March 23, 1991*
     CBS    		 (1 W) No. 1 vs. (3 W) No. 13 Seton Hall
    Elite Eight    		 W 77–65[7]  34–0
    		  30 – Johnson  6 – Johnson  11 – Anthony  Kingdome (23,666)
    Seattle, WA
    March 30, 1991*
     CBS    		 (1 W) No. 1 vs. (2 MW) No. 6 Duke
    Final Four    		 L 77–79[8]  34–1
    		  29 – Hunt  13 – Johnson  6 – Anthony  RCA Dome (47,100)
    Indianapolis, IN
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    W=West.

    Sources 1990-91 UNLV Schedule and Results [9]

    Rankings
    Main article: 1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    Week
    PollPre123456789101112131415Final
    AP11111111111111111
    Coaches12111111111111111

    [10][11]

    Awards and honors

    Team players drafted into the NBA
    YearRoundPickPlayerNBA Team
    199111Larry JohnsonCharlotte Hornets
    199119Stacey AugmonAtlanta Hawks
    1991112Greg AnthonyNew York Knicks
    1991229George AcklesMiami Heat
    1992125Elmore SpencerLos Angeles Clippers

    [15]

    References
    1. "The longest winning streaks in college basketball history | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
    2. "'They need to go to the NBA': UNLV's 45-game win streak was historic, and its end was shocking". ESPN.com. April 2, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
    3. "U.N.L.V. Perks Up To Pass a Big Test". The New York Times. February 11, 1991. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
    4. "No. 1 UNLV Makes Arkansas Look 2nd-Rate". The Sun-Sentinel. February 10, 1991. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
    5. "Streak Reaches 37 as UNLV Cruises By New Mexico State". Deseret News. February 26, 1991. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    6. "UNLV takes slow road past Hoyas Runnin' Rebels win, 62-54, but fast break is missing". The Baltimore Sun. March 18, 1991. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
    7. "Rebels Run By Seton Hall to Final Four". Los Angeles Times. March 24, 1991. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    8. "Duke Exacts Revenge on UNLV, 79-77". The Washington Post. March 31, 1991. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
    9. "1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball stats" (PDF). NCAA Career Statistics.
      • ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. Random House. 2009. pp. 987–988. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
    11. "1990-91 College Basketball Polls". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
    12. "Naismith Awards - Naismith Trophy". Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
    13. "The Oscar Robertson Trophy - Past Oscar Robertson Trophy Winners". Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
    14. "Wooden Award - Athletics". Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
    15. "1991 NBA Draft on Basketballreference.com". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
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