UNLV head coach Dan Mullen appeared more serious than usual during his Monday press conference. After the Rebels’ narrow 40-35 home loss to New Mexico, the mood was somber. The team’s early 21-point deficit and defensive lapses, including 532 total yards allowed, were difficult to overlook. Yet, what troubled Mullen most was the missed opportunity to seal a late win.
“That hurts, as a team,” Mullen said. “It’s our focus to get back into making sure we’re performing better, and when we have opportunities to make things happen, to win games, we’re doing things to win games.”
The Rebels managed to pull within one point of New Mexico with just over six minutes to play but conceded another touchdown with less than three minutes left. Their final offensive drive failed to put more points on the board.
Despite the setback, Mullen emphasized that the season is far from over. UNLV, now 6-2 overall and 2-2 in Mountain West play, remains in contention for the conference title. The team’s next challenge is an away game against Colorado State (2-6, 1-3), where a win would keep UNLV’s championship hopes intact.
On the positive side, quarterback Anthony Colandrea continues to shine. He completed 36 of 46 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, maintaining his position as one of the conference’s most efficient passers.
Author’s Summary: After a painful loss to New Mexico, UNLV looks to rebound against Colorado State as Coach Mullen focuses on renewed discipline and improved performance.