The 1997-1998 season looked like a typical UNLV season - one that was filled with talent and potential, but one that was falling woefully short of expectations. Sitting at 12-10, the Rebels most exciting and most impactful player, Keon Clark, was booted from the team. Clark was averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots at the time of his dismissal and it looked like the Rebels were just going to play out the string of a disappointing season.

In Clark's absence, Kevin Simmons, Issiah Epps, and freshman Kaspars Kambala picked up the slack. UNLV finished the regular season 5-2 to give them some hope at an NIT bid with a 16-12 record - if they could have some success in the WAC tournament, which given the path, would be a daunting task.

In the first round of the tournament, UNLV faced a Hawaii team with much to play for. The Warriors had a late season skid followed by a hot stretch that put them on the NCAA tournament bubble. With a couple of wins in the tournament, the Warriors could secure an NCAA tournament bid. But the Rebels popped that bubble with a 64-59 victory and sent the Warriors to the NIT.

That win did little to energize the fan base, though the Thomas and Mack was filled to watch the Rebels play #5 Utah in the second round. Nobody gave UNLV much of a chance; afterall, the Utes were good enough to eventually make it to the NCAA championship game where they fell to Kentucky. As a heavy underdog, the Rebels were able to squeak out a 54-51 win against the Utes, aided by a late season zone that Coach Bill Bayno installed.

At this point, the fan base started to bubble. Fans were excited and talking about the Rebels, playing the "what if" game. Tickets were tough to come by and for the first time in ages, the Rebels were becoming the talk of the town.

Next up, a reunion with the man who built it all, Jerry Tarkanian and the Fresno State Bulldogs. Fresno State, like UNLV, was very talented but an enigma. The Rebels were again an underdog, but an underdog with momentum and sudden support. Fresno State had been ranked in the low teens early in the year before slipping out of the polls. At the time of the clash with UNLV, the Bulldogs were sitting on the NCAA bubble with an 18-10 record. Again fueled by a stingy zone, the Rebels prevailed 76-67.

With an NIT bid all but guaranteed, an NCAA bid was now on the line for the Rebels. The championship game featured UNLV, once again as a heavy underdog, against the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos were ranked #20 and already a shoo in as an at large selection for the tournament. The Lobos featured and immovable force at center in Kenny Thomas and an all conference guard in Lamont Long and a Rebel killer in Clayton Shields. The Lobos swept the Rebels in the two regular season games, games that were never in question.

The clip below starts at the point where UNLV's NCAA hopes were on the ropes. Just before the Lobos could deliver the knockout blow, the Rebels were lifted by an oft maligned point guard from New Zealand and a "no, no, no, YES!" game clincher by the go to guy.

Viva Las Vegas.