The Runnin' Rebels returned to their winning ways just two days after their head coach resigned.
The 84-78 victory over the New Mexico Lobos was the first win for interim head coach Todd Simon. Simon took the helm after Dave Rice resigned Sunday.
Rice led the Rebels basketball team for four and a half seasons, but the team had struggled in recent weeks.
After starting 8-2, the Rebels dropped five of six games, including six straight before Rice's resignation.
Simon described the resignation of his former boss and his promotion as a whirlwind, and said he was happy to get his players back on the court.
"The game was calming. The practices are calming. The parts where it is just basketball are calming. It is something you dream of and love. It is fun," Simon said after the win.
Simon will remain the interim head coach for the rest of the season.
The Runnin' Rebels, who are now 10-7 overall and 1-3 in conference have 14 games left on the regular schedule.
They will also play in the Mountain West tournament.
The winner of that tournament gets an automatic ticket to the NCAA tournament.
.@UNLVBasketball_ warming up before first game under Todd Simon. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/wDYgy9tcVF
— Bryan Callahan (@BCallahanKTNV) January 13, 2016
Todd Simon era officially underway for @UNLVBasketball_ What do you think of change? @KTNV pic.twitter.com/hTTiQXvgCJ
— Bryan Callahan (@BCallahanKTNV) January 13, 2016
Todd Simon post game press conference.
Posted by Bryan Callahan on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
