Royce Hamm Jr,
58
Gardner-Webb GW 0-1,0-0 Big South
64
Winner UNLV UNLV 1-0,0-0 Mountain West
Gardner-Webb GW
0-1,0-0 Big South
58
Final
64
UNLV UNLV
1-0,0-0 Mountain West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gardner-Webb GW 24 34 58
UNLV UNLV 27 37 64

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Runnin' Rebels Win Season Opener In Kruger's Debut

Royce Hamm Jr. records double-double with career highs of 18 points and 17 rebounds, while Bryce Hamilton scores 22 on his 21st birthday in 64-58 home victory over Gardner-Webb.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2021-22 season Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center with a 64-58 win over Gardner-Webb (0-1) in Kevin Kruger's head coaching debut.

Runnin' Rebel senior Royce Hamm Jr. had career highs of 18 points and 17 rebounds for a double-double. He also added a career-high-tying four blocks. Senior Bryce Hamilton scored 22 points on his 21st birthday and junior Donovan Williams added 10.

Gardner-Webb was led by D'Maurian Williams' double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Zion Williams had a team-high 11 rebounds and Lance Terry added 13 points.



STAT OF THE GAME: Both teams had a rough shooting night, combining to go 1 for 26 from 3-point range in the first half. UNLV finished the game 2 for 25 from long range, while GWU was 3 for 20.

TURNING POINT: UNLV used a 9-0 run, all by Hamilton, to take a 60-51 lead with just under three minutes to go. Gardner-Webb cut it to two with under a minute left but the Runnin' Rebels hung on for the six-point win.

QUOTABLE: "I'm very proud of the guys for fighting and competing. I really feel that when we go back and watch the film we will be really encouraged how much better we can get. We'll take this one as a staff because we didn't put as much emphasis on the offensive side of the ball until a little more recently because we really felt we could make an imprint with this team defensively. As they continue to play together and start to learn each other's instincts and movements, I think the offense will get better." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger



NOTES: 
- UNLV forced GWU to commit 16 turnovers.
- The Runnin' Rebels shot 30.3% from the field for the game and GWU shot 38.3%.
- UNLV is now 50-14 all-time in season lid-lifters and is 42-8 when opening the season at home. 
- The Runnin' Rebels are 26-4 in season openers at the Thomas & Mack Center.
- UNLV has won 14 of its last 17 season openers overall.
- This marked just the second time the Runnin' Rebels have played Gardner-Webb in men's basketball and are now 2-0 against the Bulldogs.
- UNLV is now 6-1 all-time against teams that currently make up the Big South Conference.
- UNLV was without Victor Iwuakor, James Hampshire and Jordan McCabe.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,130 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will continue its season-opening three-game homestand at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. as it hosts California from the Pac-12. Tickets are on sale at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office. 


 
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