▁a ▁regional ▁power . ▁Though ▁the ▁schools ▁were ▁separated ▁by ▁just ▁, ▁John ▁Wood en ▁of ▁U CLA ▁refused ▁to ▁schedule ▁a ▁regular ▁season ▁game ▁with ▁them . ▁At ▁the ▁peak ▁of ▁Wood en ' s ▁dynast y , ▁the ▁schools ▁met ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁West ▁Regional ▁final . ▁Long ▁Beach ▁led ▁at ▁the ▁half ▁by ▁ 1 2 , ▁but ▁U CLA ▁pre va iled ▁ 5 7 – 5 5 ▁en ▁route ▁to ▁their ▁fifth ▁straight ▁national ▁championship . ▁W ary ▁of ▁continu ing ▁in ▁U CLA ' s ▁shadow , ▁T ark an ian ▁accepted ▁an ▁offer ▁to ▁coach ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Nev ada , ▁Las ▁Veg as ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁ ▁University ▁of ▁Nev ada ▁Las ▁Veg as ▁( 1 9 7 3 – 1 9 9 2 ) ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁his ▁arrival , ▁UN L V ▁was ▁dub bed ▁" T umble we ed ▁Te ch " ▁by ▁loc als , ▁and ▁their ▁basketball ▁program ▁had ▁no ▁winning ▁track ▁record ▁and ▁minimal ▁fan ▁support . ▁However , ▁he ▁achieved ▁much ▁success ▁there , ▁co aching ▁the ▁R unn in ' ▁Reb els ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁In ▁fact , ▁it ▁was ▁T ark an ian ' s ▁idea ▁to ▁call ▁the ▁team ▁the ▁" R unn in ' ▁Reb els ." ▁ ▁His ▁teams ▁were ▁known ▁for ▁an ▁up - tem po ▁style , ▁st if ling ▁defense ,