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Posted

RENO, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (11-11, 5-6) was defeated 71-65 by UNR (12-10, 4-7) Saturday night at Lawlor Events Center. The game was a part of the Silver State Series, presented by America First Credit Union.

After trailing by 12 points early in the second half, the Runnin' Rebels used a 14-4 run to cut their deficit to just two at 50-48 with a little over 10 minutes to go. 

It was extremely tight from there as a Jaden Henley 3-pointer gave the Runnin' Rebels a 57-55 lead with seven minutes to go and later, back-to-back 3-pointers by Julien Rishwain tied the score at 63-63 with 2:30 left. A Dedan Thomas Jr. jumper tied the game at 65-65 with 1:17 remaining, but UNLV did not score again as the Wolf Pack finished the game on a 6-0 run.

UNLV LEADERS: Henley scored 14 points, while Bear Cherry and Thomas Jr. each had 12. Cherry was 4 of 5 from the field. Jailen Bedford added nine points and Jalen Hill contributed eight. Pape N'Diaye led the team in rebounding with five, while Henley and Rishwain each recorded three steals.

UNR LEADERS: The Wolf Pack had four players score in double figures, led by Nick Davidson's 14 points and six rebounds. Justin McBride and Kobe Sanders each scored 13, while Tyler Rolison had 12.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV to committed 15 turnovers, which led to 17 points for UNR.

QUOTABLE: "We've been in four close games. I've been telling them that we have given ourselves a chance to win close games. We are going to focus on the positive. This is going to turn for us and we are going to be on the other side of them. It is going to be because of having some close games here where we felt what it feels like to have an opportunity to make a play or have an opportunity to do something different. It is going to turn for us for the better and we are going to start coming out on top of some close games." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger

OTHER NOTES: 
- UNLV has lost four straight games by a combined 15 points.
- This was the 100th all-time meeting between UNLV and UNR in men's basketball. UNLV leads the series 64-36.
- It was UNR's third straight win against UNLV dating back to last season.
- After UNLV held UNR to just 37.9% shooting from the field in the first half (11 of 29), the Wolf Pack shot 57.9% (11 of 19) in the final 20 minutes. 
- UNLV made 19 of 24 from the free-throw line (79.2%), but Thomas Jr. was just 5 of 10.
- UNLV led in rebounding, 29-26.
- UNLV held UNR to just 4 of 19 on 3-pointers (21.1%).
- UNLV led in fast-break points (14-8), but UNR held the bench-scoring advantage (25-13).
- UNR held a 33-30 halftime lead.
- The game had three lead changes and four ties throughout.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,249 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will return to Las Vegas and host Boise State on Tuesday, Feb 4 at 8 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Posted

Announced attendance last night: 11,008

I'd guess actual was 9000+, easily the largest crowd of the year for Nevada, and pleasantly surprising for the way this team has been playing.

Posted
On 2/2/2025 at 12:11 PM, UNLV2001 said:

A Dedan Thomas Jr. jumper tied the game at 65-65 with 1:17 remaining, but UNLV did not score again as the Wolf Pack finished the game on a 6-0 run.

This has happened so often in the KK era, it's almost automatic.

On 2/2/2025 at 12:11 PM, UNLV2001 said:

QUOTABLE: "We've been in four close games. I've been telling them that we have given ourselves a chance to win close games. We are going to focus on the positive. This is going to turn for us and we are going to be on the other side of them. It is going to be because of having some close games here where we felt what it feels like to have an opportunity to make a play or have an opportunity to do something different. It is going to turn for us for the better and we are going to start coming out on top of some close games." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger

When is this going to happen coach?!?! Because at this point blowing close games at the end is part of your culture and DNA.  And there isn't any time left for it to "turn for the better."

  • Like 1
Posted

I've harped a lot about DJ underachieving this year but I'll reiterate it again after yet another stinker.

Not that DJ is bad, he's a good solid player who would be a nice qb on a solid winning team as a 3rd or 4th option on offense. He was just projected as a program savior which he's proven he is not.

I see what Kruger did too, he brought in two supposedly versatile wings in Henley and Bedford plus a big front court player in Bear which should have given a well rounded team. Neither Henley or Bedford were able to perform to assumed projections/ expectations though and Bear has been a complete bust.  Throw in the Whaley "injury" and you have the Mediocre at best team we've seen all year.

DJ's 5-10 from the FT line last night and 5 turnovers were absolutely brutal.

  • Like 3
Posted
On 2/2/2025 at 1:55 PM, VincentVegaBond2 said:

I've harped a lot about DJ underachieving this year but I'll reiterate it again after yet another stinker.

Not that DJ is bad, he's a good solid player who would be a nice qb on a solid winning team as a 3rd or 4th option on offense. He was just projected as a program savior which he's proven he is not.

I see what Kruger did too, he brought in two supposedly versatile wings in Henley and Bedford plus a big front court player in Bear which should have given a well rounded team. Neither Henley or Bedford were able to perform to assumed projections/ expectations though and Bear has been a complete bust.  Throw in the Whaley "injury" and you have the Mediocre at best team we've seen all year.

DJ's 5-10 from the FT line last night and 5 turnovers were absolutely brutal.

DJT is clearly the best player on the roster, but he can be inconsistent & not come thru at critical moments 

The Henley / Bedford combo don't match last years Boone twins 

Cherry is a raw work in progress and wouldn't be starting on a roster with decent bigs --- Cherry (as I said a few games ago) would be a bench guy to go get a few rebounds - but he's not a full time option at the 5 position -- he's got only one offensive move & it takes a few seconds to even get it going when he gets the ball

bottom line is the roster took a step back in talent across most positions from last season 

  • Like 2
Posted

UNLV needed bigger, more physical wings and bigs. 

UNLV has shooters, but there's no threats around the basket to take pressure off the shooters. 

Teams just run UNLV off the 3pt line and that's proven to be effective slowing the Rebs down for long stretches.

There's noone who can go for 20 inside 3.

  • Like 2

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