Dec. 2, 2017 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (6-2) lost its second straight game in overtime, this time at home Saturday night to Arizona, 91-88, in front of an electric atmosphere at the Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV freshman forward Brandon McCoy recorded his sixth double-double of the season with a game- and career-high 33 points along with 10 rebounds. Junior forward Shakur Juiston added 21 points with nine rebounds.
Arizona (5-3) had three players score in double figures, led by Allonzo Trier's 29 points and Deandre Ayton's 28 points and 10 rebounds.
TURNING POINT: UNLV led by as many as 13 points early in the second half, but Arizona came back to take a one-point lead at 61-60 with just under 10 minutes to go. From there it was neck and neck with eight lead changes and five ties until overtime.
RUNNIN' REBELS OF THE GAME: McCoy made 13 of 17 shots from the field and was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. Juiston was 10 of 14 from the field with four blocks and three assists.
QUOTABLE: "A lost opportunity. However there was growth. It's what it's all about, getting better, but it's also about winning. We fell a little short of our goal tonight. I think the community was proud of our effort and the fans that came saw a good game. We competed against a top-10 caliber team, regardless of their record. We just fell a little short at home, which is not fun and doesn't feel good. We have to tighten up some things and keep growing and getting better." - UNLV head coach Marvin Menzies.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV shot 53.2 percent from the field, its sixth game this season shooting over 50 percent.
NOTES:
- UNLV has now made at least one 3-pointer in 1,014 straight games.
- With the loss, UNLV falls to 4-2 all-time against Arizona at the Thomas & Mack Center.
- There were a total of 10 ties and nine lead changes during the game.
- Arizona's largest lead of the game was three points.
- Senior guard Jordan Johnson dished out nine assists, which marked his fourth game this season with at least nine. - The announced attendance of 14,579 was the largest of the season for UNLV, and biggest since Feb. 25, 2017 vs. Nevada, Reno (14,808).
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: With the National Finals Rodeo taking over the Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV will move over the Las Vegas Strip for its next two games: Tuesday, Dec. 5 vs. Oral Roberts, and Saturday, Dec. 9 vs. Illinois - both at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The ORU game will tip at 7 p.m., while Illinois will start at 9 p.m. Tickets for both games may be purchased at RunninRebelsOnTheStrip.com.
