Royce Hamm Jr
62
North Dakota St. NDSU 2-1,0-0 Summit League
64
Winner UNLV UNLV 3-0,0-0 Mountain West
North Dakota St. NDSU
2-1,0-0 Summit League
62
Final
64
UNLV UNLV
3-0,0-0 Mountain West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Dakota St. NDSU 27 35 62
UNLV UNLV 32 32 64

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Rebels Run Record To 3-0 With 64-62 Win Over North Dakota State

Royce Hamm Jr.'s game-saving block keeps UNLV undefeated heading into Friday's game on the Strip vs. No. 4 Michigan.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (3-0) kept its record perfect on the young campaign with a 64-62 win over North Dakota State Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center to close out its three-game season-opening homestand.

Royce Hamm Jr. pulled down a career-high-tying 17 rebounds and blocked two shots, including the game-saver with three seconds left. Bryce Hamilton led all scorers for the third straight game, tallying 17 points, while Donovan Williams added a career-high 15 and Jordan McCabe chipped in 13. 

North Dakota State (2-1) was led by Rocky Kreuser's double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Maleeck Harden-Hayes also scored in double figures with 12.



STAT OF THE GAME: The Runnin' Rebels held the Bison to a UNLV opponent season-low 35.8% shooting (19 of 53).

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL HIM STRETCH: Williams had two spectacular high-flying dunks, showing the Thomas & Mack Center faithful about his nickname. One was off a Marvin Coleman steal, which extended UNLV's lead to five points with eight minutes to play, electrifying the crowd. "I told Jordan I have been dreaming about getting a fast break dunk in the Mack since June," Williams said after the game. "I go home and I just dream about getting dunks. Some people dream about getting steals, blocks, threes, whatever. I just dream about getting dunks."

HOW IT ENDED: With a 64-62 lead with nine seconds to go, Marvin Coleman missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Hamm Jr.'s rejection was the deciding factor. He said it was the first walk-off block in his career. It marked the second game-saving block in a row as he also had one on Saturday vs. Cal.
 

QUOTABLE: "We are proud of the way that they continue to fight and grit it out. North Dakota State is a nightmare of a matchup from a scouting standpoint with Kreuser and (Grant) Nelson and what they can do. Royce did an unbelievable job. It's a really weird matchup when somebody that big can shoot it as well as he does. So for Royce to do what he did was great. David (Muoka) came in and gave a huge lift. Donovan guarded him for a little bit and then Bryce coming in at the end and kind of putting them on their heels was big for us. Just really happy for them and really proud of them because we  feel like they're guys that deserve it. So to come out on top in three close games when we could have lost all three it's just a good feeling." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger
 

NOTES: 
- UNLV is 3-0 for the first time since 2017-18.
- UNLV held its opponent to 38.3% or less shooting for the third straight game.
- UNLV outrebounded NDSU 42-38.
- The Runnin' Rebels had a season-low eight turnovers and a season-high 17 assists.
- Williams (career-high tying) and Muoka both pulled down six rebounds.
- UNLV doubled up the Bison's points in the paint, 36-18.
- UNLV's bench outscored NDSU's 23-16.
- There were seven lead changes and seven ties throughout the game.
- It marked only the second meeting between the two teams. UNLV is now 2-0 all-time in the series.
- UNLV led at halftime for the third straight game.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,132 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will stay in Las Vegas to compete in the Roman Main Event at T-Mobile Arena on the Strip on Friday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov 21. The Runnin' Rebels will face No. 4 Michigan on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and then either Arizona or Wichita State on Sunday at 6:30 or 9 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit RunninRebelsOnTheStrip.com.
 



 
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