LAS VEGAS _ Just hours after learning of Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash a few hundred miles away, San Diego State's players, many of whom grew up idolizing Bryant, honored his legacy in the only way they knew how.
By doing something Bryant did as well or better than anybody in the history of the sport.
By winning.
The No. 4 Aztecs gutted through a surreal, emotional afternoon for a 71-67 win against UNLV at Thomas & Mack Center, hitting blackjack in Las Vegas for their 21st win against no defeats.
That stands alone now in school history, ahead of the 20-0 start by Kawhi Leonard's 2010-11 team and the 20-game win streak by Xavier Thames' 2013-14 team that also reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
It came on the nine-year anniversary of Leonard's team losing its first game _ Jan. 26, 2011 at BYU _ and the Aztecs were still tied with the pesky Rebels with 7{ minutes to go after leading by nine in the first half.
"I love coaching this team," coach Brian Dutcher said. "This is a magnificent team. You're going to have to play a heck of a game to beat them."
The hero was not someone you'd expect. Backup guard Trey Pulliam had a career-high 18 points _ double his previous best _ after scoring one, zero, two, four and two points in his last five games. None were more important than the twisting layup in traffic with his right hand from the left side at the shot-clock buzzer after UNLV had narrowed the margin to five with 33 seconds left.
Malachi Flynn had 21 points in 38 grueling minutes and Jordan Schakel had 11 as the Aztecs battled foul trouble and an off-shooting day (41.8 percent) from the field. But not the line, where they were 18 of 21 and sealed only their third close game of the season. Another key stat: only six turnovers.
Bryce Hamilton led UNLV (11-11, 6-3) with 29 points, 17 in the first half. Everyone else, however, was a combined 14 of 38 (36.8 percent).
But the game particulars were muted by the news about Bryant, which began to spread about an hour before tip-off as players from both teams were on the court for pregame warmups. SDSU's KJ Feagin walked in circles, shaking his head and saying, "No, no, no, no." Flynn sat on the scorer's table, staring into the distance. Other players stayed in the locker room.
Feagin's mother came down to the court, and KJ asked if it was true. She nodded, then held hands with Flynn and her son for a group prayer.
About 10 minutes before tip, a photo of Bryant was shown on the arena video board and the public address announcer asked fans for a moment of silence. Afterward, they broke into chants of "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe."
Then the game started, and it was clear both teams were still rattled. They combined to miss six of their first seven shots. The first two that SDSU made were prayers, a 30-footer by Flynn at the shot-clock buzzer and a two-pointer by Yanni Wetzell that he tossed up without looking after a hard foul inside.
The Aztecs finally got their offense going and built leads of 18-9 and 29-20 before foul trouble struck _ first to Wetzell, then Jordan Schakel (who had already made a pair of 3s), then Matt Mitchell. One by one they retreated to the sidelines, and Dutcher was forced to dig deeper into an already depleted bench with Aguek Arop's shoulder not healthy enough to suit up.
That included Joel Mensah, who had dropped below Nolan Narain in the rotation, and Keshad Johnson, who got his first meaningful first-half minutes in two months.
With Flynn and Feagin shooting a combined 2 of 10, the first-half savior was Pulliam. He made his first 3-pointer since Dec. 28 against Cal Poly and only second in 10 Mountain West games, and that seemed to get the talented junior college transfer untracked.
He added a reverse layup, a floater in the lane and a free throw. Then he grabbed an offensive rebound with a second left in the half and quickly hoisted another floater that swished at the buzzer for a 34-28 advantage at intermission.
But UNLV's Marvin Coleman opened the second half with a 3, then hit another. And with 13:30 left, UNLV was ahead 40-38 _ its first lead since 2-0 _ on Cheikh Mbacke Diong's put-back after an offensive rebound.
It was the theme of practice all week, keeping the Rebels off the offensive boards. They entered the day ranked sixth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (the amount of misses you get back) at 36.7 percent, and SDSU has struggled on the glass without Nathan Mensah and now Arop.
It stayed close for the next seven minutes, including a four-minute scoreless stretch for both teams, until a 10-2 run by the Aztecs gave them some breathing room again.
Next up for SDSU (10-0 in the Mountain West) is a Wednesday game at New Mexico, which is undefeated at home this season.
