With a 10-game winning streak in tow, on the verge of a National
Championship and in the midst of run that would see them win 52 out
of 53 games, No. 1 UNLV met its match on February 26, 1990.
A starting lineup that included three NBA first round draft picks?
Who cares. A Hall of Fame coach running the show on the
sideline? Big deal.
Living up to its name, the Thunderdome’s decibel level hit
110 during the ESPN Big Monday telecast. It sounded like a jet
engine on takeoff. When the dust had settled a national
television audience and 6,000 delirious fans witnessed as UCSB
shocked the Runnin’ Rebels, 78-70.
UNLV would proceed to win its next 42 games in a row, but on this
night in Santa Barbara, the Gauchos owned the Runnin’ Rebels
and the college basketball world.
