UNLV puts Knight's record chase on hold

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Steve Alford, John Havlicek, Jerry Tarkanian and Fuzzy Zoeller came to West Texas to see Bob Knight make history.

If they don't mind sticking around a few days, they can watch him try again.

Knight's Texas Tech team fell behind UNLV early and never recovered, losing 74-66 Thursday night to leave him tied with Dean Smith atop the men's Division I win list.

Knight's next chance to own the record by himself comes Monday at home against New Mexico. History is on his side: He's never needed more than two tries to hit milestones such as 300, 400, 600, 700 and 800.

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," Knight said. "They are people I've known for a long time, and it's nice they keep track of [the record]. But it's not like a record in the Masters or breaking Babe Ruth's record."

About 30 of Knight's cronies showed up, ranging from Ohio State teammates such as Havlicek to former players at Army and Indiana, like Alford.

"I was really tickled," Knight said.

Even before the game, Knight was making contingency plans.

"He told me in the locker room, 'Now, if I don't win tonight, you going to come back on the 1st?'" Alford said. "We don't play on the 1st, so I'll do my best."

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-of-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."