UNLV prevents Knight from breaking wins record

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ Bob Knight won't be making any more history in 2006. <br/><br/>Having started this season third on the men's Division I wins list, Knight was ready to take over the top spot

Friday, December 29th 2006, 6:30 am

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ Bob Knight won't be making any more history in 2006.

Having started this season third on the men's Division I wins list, Knight was ready to take over the top spot all by his sweater-wearing self Thursday night _ except his Texas Tech Red Raiders hardly gave him a chance.

Tech got behind early and never recovered, losing 74-66 to UNLV and leaving Knight tied with Dean Smith at 879 career wins.

His next chance for the milestone comes on New Year's Day. Considering how much Knight detests the hoopla, there's no doubt his resolution for 2007 is to get this over with.

``I haven't been interested in it from Day 1,'' Knight said. ``All I'm interested in is playing well. We've got a lot of work to do.''

Steve Alford, John Havlicek, Jerry Tarkanian and Fuzzy Zoeller were among roughly 30 Knight pals who traveled to cotton country in hopes that he'd make history.

Instead, they saw him whiff on his first try _ just like he did in chasing milestone wins 300, 400, 600, 700 and 800.

The good news? He got all of them on the second try. So if those guys don't mind sticking around for a few days, or flying back in, he might make it worth their while Monday against New Mexico.

Alford, who coaches Iowa, said he'll do his best to return. Havlicek seemed like he'll be in.

``Anything special that happens, we're there for each other,'' Havlicek said.

Just to be safe _ and to be crusty, cranky Bob Knight _ he told his buddies ``they might have to stay here three weeks.''

``That would be a boon to the economy,'' said Knight, who is in his sixth season living in Lubbock, the hub of the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world.

Knight came into this season with 869 wins. After getting to 875, he needed two tries to match Adolph Rupp for second (876), then passed the former Kentucky coach in his next game.

A couple wins later, he matched Smith, the former North Carolina coach, on his first try. Five days later, folks were so giddy about Knight possibly breaking the record that 15,098 fans showed up, one of the largest crowds in school history.

They were into it from the start, too, giving Knight a standing ovation when he emerged for pregame introductions, with some chanting ``Bob-by!'' Three students painted their bodies red and spelled out 8-8-0 in black on their chests.

But Knight's motion offense and man-to-man defense both let him down.

Tech (10-4) came in as the nation's most-accurate 3-point shooting team, but made only one of 12. UNLV (12-2) was 11-for-25 from behind the arc.

The Red Raiders were on the wrong end of a 13-2 run and trailed 32-23 at halftime. Their deficit peaked at 19 almost midway through the second half, prompting hundred of fans to start leaving before Knight's club made a pretty good comeback, one aided by UNLV failing to make a basket over the last 6:21.

Tech got to 66-55 on a layup by Jay Jackson with 3:54 left when Knight drew his first technical of the season. It seemed like he was arguing a non-call, but he said it was problems with the ensuing inbounds pass that set him off.

``I thought they stepped over the line twice _ once when they threw it in and once when the guy caught it,'' Knight said, laughing and adding: ``I (also) thought Jackson had been fouled on the play, but that wasn't my comment.''

The Red Raiders eventually got to 68-62 with 1:38 to go, but the Runnin' Rebels protected their lead by making six straight foul shots.

``We used a lot of really good energy at a time when we should've been tired,'' Knight said. ``Where was our energy earlier?''

Led by former NBA coach Lon Kruger, who improved to 8-2 against Knight, the Runnin' Rebels obviously didn't want to be firsthand witnesses to history. Every big basket or exciting play was punctuated by guys jumping up off the bench, high-fiving and spinning around, as if this was an NCAA tournament game.

``I'm very happy for him,'' Kruger said of Knight's pending feat, ``yet I'm not displeased that we delayed the celebration for at least a game or two.''

Martin Zeno led Tech with 22 points and Jackson, who was 1-of-6 on 3s, had 20.

Kevin Kruger led UNLV with 21 points. Wendell White and Curtis Terry each scored 12 points.