LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team lost 74-66 to Pacific Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Tigers (11-3), who trailed by nine points early in the second half, rallied to outscore UNLV (4-8) 45-31 during the final 20 minutes.
Pacific's Justin Moore led all scorers with 22 points, while Gary Chivichyan added 11.
The Runnin' Rebels were led by junior guard
Amauri Hardy's 19 points, while senior forward
Nick Blair added 14 and sophomore guard
Bryce Hamilton scored 13.
QUOTABLE: "Our effort and energy was unacceptable. In practice tomorrow, we are going to spend a lot of time taking charges, diving for loose balls, blocking out and guarding the dribble. If you don't do those things in basketball you are not going to be successful. Their team came onto our court, played harder, tougher, more physical and was more aggressive. That's not what we are about and not what we seek to do each day. We are going to make sure we keep doing those things every day until they become habits" - UNLV head coach
T.J. Otzelberger.
NOTES:
- UNLV junior guard
Jonah Antonio returned to the lineup for the first time in seven games. Senior guard
Elijah Mitrou-Long missed his third straight game because of a broken thumb.
- Pacific made 9 of 20 3-pointers (45 percent).
- Sophomore guard
Marvin Coleman led UNLV in rebounding with eight.
- Blair was 5 of 6 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 on 3-pointers.
- UNLV was outrebounded, 34-28.
- There were nine lead changes and five ties throughout the game.
- Pacific led in second-chance points, 15-4, and in bench scoring, 36-18.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,082 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will continue its five-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 21 vs. Robert Morris at 12 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.