LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Four Runnin' Rebels scored in double figures as the UNLV men's basketball snapped a two-game losing streak with a 72-70 win over Akron Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Runnin' Rebels (3-3) led by as many as 18 points as Luis Rodriguez scored a team-high 13 with six rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Kalib Boone and Dedan Thomas Jr. each added 12 points, while Jackie Johnson III contributed 11.
Akron (4-3) was led by Enrique Freeman's 22 points and 13 rebounds.
CLOSE FINISH: UNLV led 70-60 with just over two minutes to play, but Akron finished the game on a 10-2 run to cut it to 72-70 with 47 seconds left. The Zips had a chance at the end but Mikal Dawson missed a long 3-pointer with just a couple of seconds remaining.
QUOTABLE: "So proud of the guys. That was a big win over a very good Akron team. We stumbled a little bit last week and lost a little of our swagger and confidence. That's one of those things that you can't say 'be confident,' that's not how it works. You have to get in the gym, keep working. Tonight we came out with a lot more of what we expected to be as a team and did a great job. Shared the ball and shot it the way we want to. That's an Akron team that is going to win a lot of games, so really happy for the guys that they get to enjoy the day off tomorrow after beating a good team."
OTHER NOTES:
- This was the first-ever meeting between Akron and UNLV in men's basketball.
- UNLV improved to 12-1 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
- It was UNLV's second straight win at the Thomas & Mack Center, albeit 17 days apart.
- Boone, who started for the first time in a UNLV uniform, was 6 of 9 from the field with a team-high seven rebounds. He also had season highs of four blocked shots and three steals.
- Thomas Jr. added six assists, while Jackie Johnson III also had three steals.
- UNLV recorded season highs of 20 assists and 12 steals.
- The Runnin' Rebels shot 53.1% from the field in the first half (17 of 32) and 58.3% on 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes (7 of 12) to take a 41-31 halftime lead.
- UNLV's largest lead of the game was 55-37 with 13:33 to go.
- Justin Webster made a team-high three 3-pointers (on six attempts) to score nine points.
- UNLV finished shooting 48.4% from the field for the game (30 of 62) and 45% on 3-pointers (9 of 20).
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,199 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will head back out on the road next week and play at Dayton on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The 6 p.m. PT game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.
TICKETS: UNLV men's
basketball tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
