LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team defeated Wyoming 68-56 Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center to improve to 2-0 in Mountain West play for the first time in 13 years.
The Runnin' Rebels (8-6, 2-0) were led by freshman forward Joel Ntambwe's game- and career-high 31 points. He also had a game-high 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
The Cowboys (4-11, 0-2) had three players score in double figures, with Hunter Thompson scoring a team-high 17 points.
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV used a 26-4 run during the second half to turn a six-point deficit (36-30) into its largest lead of the game (56-40) with 8:28 to play.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV senior guard
Noah Robotham and sophomore guard
Amauri Hardy combined to dish out 16 assists and committed just four turnovers.
RUNNIN' REBEL OF THE GAME: Ntambwe was 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers to tally the most points in a game by a Runnin' Rebel since
Jovan Mooring scored 31 at UNR last year on Feb. 6. Ntambwe was also 6 of 7 at the free-throw line.
NOTES:
- The last time UNLV started 2-0 in Mountain West play was during the 2005-06 season.
- UNLV improved to 28-3 all-time vs. Wyoming at home and won its 18th straight game against the Cowboys at the Thomas & Mack Center.
- UNLV recorded 19 assists on 22 made field goals, while Wyoming recorded just four assists on 20 makes.
- UNLV followed its season-low eight turnovers vs. CSU with just 10 against Wyoming. The Cowboys turned it over 18 times.
- After allowing Wyoming to shoot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range in the first half, UNLV held the Cowboys to just 33 percent and 22 percent in the second half, respectively.
- The Runnin' Rebels made 5 of 10 3-pointers in the second half.
- UNLV outscored Wyoming by 14 in the second half (38-24).
- There were nine lead changes and one tie throughout the game.
- Wyoming led 32-30 at halftime.
- UNLV has out-rebounded its opponent in all 14 of its games this season, including 36-35 vs. Wyoming.
- The win was UNLV's second straight.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,053 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for its first Mountain West road game of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 8. The 8 pm PT contest will be televised by ESPN2.
