UNLV 69, Nevada 58: Down two starters, Wolf Pack rallies, but can't get past Rebels

With two of its best players sitting on the bench with injuries, Nevada opened a tough three-game Mountain West road stretch with a 68-59 loss at UNLV on Tuesday.

The Rebels grabbed an early lead, led by 16 (42-26) at halftime, and held off a determined Wolf Pack team in the second half. They improved to 13-9 overall and 5-4 in Mountain West games.

Nevada, playing without guard Grant Sherfield (foot) and center Warren Washington (hand), lost its third straight game and dropped to 9-10, 3-5.

With Sherfield and Washington missing their first and second starts of the season, respectively, the Wolf Pack instead with a starting group of Desmond Cambridge Jr., Will Baker, Kenan Blackshear, Daniel…