LAS VEGAS -- Given all the obstacles facing Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, not even Brian Greene could explain how he ended up with a net around his neck, a trophy in his hand and a big grin on his face.
Greene scored 22 points and hit a jumper with 5.7 seconds left as Colorado State made a stunning rally to win the title game, beating UNLV 62-61 on Saturday night.
"Considering everything that was up against us, I don't know how we did it," said Greene, a senior forward who has never been to the postseason. "We had so many chances to give up and quit and call it a good season, but we just wouldn't stop."
Just how unlikely is Colorado State's (19-13) first NCAA Tournament trip since 1990?
For starters, there was the Rams' seven-game losing streak during conference play, which dropped them to the sixth seed in the tournament. Then there was a difficult draw: matchups with archrival Wyoming, then conference co-champion Brigham Young, then the hometown Rebels.
The title game was the toughest of all. Colorado State played from behind for most of the second half -- and what's more, star center and tournament MVP Matt Nelson missed the final 13 minutes after getting poked in the eye during a scramble for a loose ball.
Instead of collapsing, the Rams held UNLV scoreless over the final 4:16, ending the game on a 14-3 run in front of the flabbergasted home crowd.
When Marcus Banks' desperate heave from just past halfcourt at the buzzer capped UNLV's monumental collapse, the Rams had a wild celebration at center court. Players and coaches joined dozens of fans who sprinted down the stairs to dance and shout on the Rebels' home floor.
"Our team persevered," Colorado State coach Dale Layer said. "A lesser team would have packed it in. They got the fruits of their labor."
Greene made a layup with 47 seconds left to pull Colorado State within 61-60. After Matt Williams blocked a layup attempt by Banks, the Rams got the ball to Greene -- and he somehow made an off-balance jumper over two defenders.
The Rebels then botched the inbounds pass, but Colorado State's Shelton Johnson missed a free throw with 2.9 seconds left. After a timeout, Banks got a good look from just beyond the midcourt stripe, but he missed badly.
"I had to check the refs to make sure it was over," said senior Andy Birley, who hit a late jumper. "It's almost too good to be true."
Colorado State hadn't even won a game in the first three years of the Mountain West Tournament, but the Rams are headed to the postseason for the first time in Layer's three seasons.
Banks, a Las Vegas native possibly playing his final home game, had 16 points and seven assists for the Rebels (21-10), who wasted a golden opportunity to clinch their first NCAA trip in three years.
"It hurts. It's terrible," Banks said. "I never thought we'd lose that game. Never."
Jermaine Lewis scored 14 points for the Rebels, while J.K. Edwards had 10 points and nine rebounds. After losing the tournament title game at home for the second straight year, UNLV must hope for an at-large berth, which probably won't come.
"They hit a hard shot at the end," UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "It's not fun to sit here. We were a little tired at the end. When a team shows the heart that they did, you don't really know what to say."
Nelson scored 17 points for the Rams, but the star sophomore was knocked out of the game with 13:06 left when he hurt his head during a scramble for a loose ball.
Nelson stayed on the court for several minutes, and after sitting briefly on the bench, he walked unsteadily to the locker room and didn't return. His eye swelled shut, and he said with a smile after the game that he begged the Colorado State trainers to "cut me."
Nelson was healthy and smiling while accepting the MVP award after the game.
"This is a dream come true," Nelson said. "None of us have tasted the postseason. It's going to be a great run."
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