LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2022-23 season Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center with a 66-56 win over Southern (0-1).
The Runnin' Rebels were led by Keshon Gilbert's career-high 13 points, while EJ Harkless scored 11, Jackie Johnson III contributed 10 and Luis Rodriguez added nine. Rodriguez led the team with seven rebounds.
The Jaguars were led by Bryson Etienne's 25 points on 9 of 18 from the field, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV forced Southern into committing 28 turnovers on the night, including 17 in the first half.
TURNING POINT: With a three-point lead at 39-36 three-and-a-half minutes into the second half, UNLV went on a 12-0 run to take a 51-36 lead with just under 13 minutes to play. The Runnin' Rebels were in control from there, but a 10-0 late SU run cut its deficit to just seven with about two minutes left. The Jaguars would get no closer.
QUOTABLE: "The defense saved us... 28 turnovers. Offensively, we hit some stagnant stretches, but it was nice to have a security on the bench and the feeling that if we could just move it and get a couple of good shots and buy a little time offensively, that our defense was holding strong. Our fight was really good and we just figured out a way to win a game. We are really happy happy for our guys and proud of them, and excited to get back in the gym because I think we're going have a ton of film that we can look at and point out things that they'll notice, things that we have talked about that we can continue to improve on for Saturday." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger
NOTES:
- UNLV made 32 of 38 from the free-throw line as a team, led by Harkless' 7 of 9 and Gilbert's 6 of 6.
- 10 of the 11 Runnin' Rebels that played in the game scored.
- The Runnin' Rebels recorded 13 steals in the game, with four different players each recording at least two (led by Harkless' five).
- UNLV led by as many as 17 points with eight minutes left in the game.
- UNLV led in bench points 25-17, fast-break points 16-6 and second-chance points 11-5.
- UNLV led 33-25 at halftime.
- This was the first-ever meeting between UNLV and Southern in men's basketball and the Runnin' Rebels improved to 6-0 all-time against schools that currently make up the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
- UNLV improved to 51-14 all-time in season lid-lifters and 43-8 when opening the season at home.
- UNLV is now 28-4 in season openers at the Thomas & Mack Center and has won 15 of its last 18 season openers overall.
- Kruger improved his career record in season openers to 2-0.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,162 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will continue its season-opening four-game homestand at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. as it hosts Incarnate Word. Tickets are on sale at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
