SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - Keshon Gilbert, EJ Harkless and Luis Rodriguez combined for 48 points as the UNLV men's basketball team (5-0) defeated Southern Illinois 56-49 late Monday night in the SoCal Challenge at the Pavilion at JSerra. The Runnin' Rebels remained perfect through five games, marking their best start to a season in five years.
Gilbert scored 18 points, Harkless added 16 and Rodriguez contributed 14. The trio combined to shoot 57.1% from the field (20 of 35). Victor Iwuakor led the Runnin' Rebels in rebounding with six, while Gilbert and Rodriguez each grabbed five.
The Salukis (3-2) were led by Marcus Domask's 21 points. He also had six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
STAT OF THE GAME: It was truly a tale of two halves as SIU shot 63.2% in the first half and 28.6% in the second, while UNLV shot 34.5% in the first half and 59.1% in the second.
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV used a 9-0 run over an almost-eight minute stretch in the second half to turn a four-point deficit into a five-point lead with 2:23 to play.
COMEBACK KIDS: Monday marked the third straight game that UNLV trailed at the half and came back to win. SIU led 30-26 at the break.
NOTES:
- UNLV forced Southern Illinois to commit 21 turnovers in the game. The Runnin' Rebels have forced 20 or more turnovers in each of their five games this season for a total of 118 (23.6 per game).
- Gilbert shot 7 of 10 from the field, including 1 of 1 on 3-pointers, Harkless was 7 of 16 from the field and Rodriguez was 6 of 9 and 2 of 3, respectively.
- UNLV trailed by as many as 11 in the first half.
- UNLV outscored SIU in points in the paint, 32-18.
- UNLV improved to 5-1 all-time against Southern Illinois, winning its fifth straight against the Salukis.
- The Runnin' Rebels are also now 19-8 all-time against schools that currently make up the Missouri Valley Conference.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,166 straight games.
- Harkless was named the Mountain West Player of the Week earlier in the day
- UNLV also began the day by receiving votes in the Associated Press' Top 25 Poll.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will face Minnesota in the championship game of the
SoCal Challenge on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (TV: CBS Sports Network). Minnesota edged Cal Baptist by a point, 62-61, in the game prior to UNLV's Monday night.
