Nov. 25, 2017 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Five Runnin' Rebels scored in double figures, including three with double-doubles, as the UNLV men's basketball team (6-0) defeated Southern Utah, 101-82, Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Senior guard Jordan Johnson scored a season-high 24 points (one shy of his career high) and dished out a season-high 14 assists (also one shy of his career high), junior forward Shakur Juiston scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, and freshman forward Brandon McCoy added 15 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots. Junior guard Kris Clyburn and senior guard Jovan Mooring each scored 12 points.
Southern Utah (2-3) was led by Jadon Cohee's 24 points, while former Runnin' Rebel Jamal Aytes had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
BEST START TO A SEASON SINCE: At 6-0, UNLV is off to its best start in six years as it was also undefeated after six games during the 2011-12 season.
TURNING POINT: UNLV led by 16 early in the second half, but the Thunderbirds cut their deficit to just one point at 65-64 with 10 minutes to play. An 8-0 UNLV run increased its lead to 10 points at 84-74 with just under six minutes to go. SUU cut it to five at 84-79, but UNLV outscored the Thunderbirds 17-3 the rest of the way.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV had three players record double-doubles in the same game for the second time this season.
RUNNIN' REBELS OF THE GAME: Juiston was 10 of 15 from the field, while Johnson was 7 of 11. Johnson also was 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.
NOTES:
- UNLV has now made at least one 3-pointer in 1,012 straight games.
- UNLV has scored at least 100 points in a game twice this season. It marks the first time UNLV has had more than one game of 100 points in two years (2015-16).
- Juiston has now had double figures in rebounding in five of six games and has had at least 16 rebounds in three games.
- This is Johnson's second game of the season with double figures in assists.
- McCoy has scored in double figures in all six games this season and has double-figure rebounds in five of six games. In addition, he has had at least 14 rebounds in three games.
- UNLV shot 54.4 percent from the field vs. SUU, which marked its fifth game this season shooting 50 percent or better.
- UNLV shot 61.3 percent from the field in the second half (19 of 31) vs. the Thunderbirds.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will play its first true road game of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Northern Iowa. The game, which is part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT on ESPN3. The Runnin' Rebels' next home game will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. vs. No. 2 Arizona at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
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