Albuquerque (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (7-2/4-1) clinched a winning record for the first time in a decade with a dominating 56-14 win at New Mexico (3-6/1-4) Saturday in front of 12,353 fans at University Stadium early Saturday evening.
 
UNLV used eye-popping special teams play and two turnovers to build a 35-7 halftime lead and never was challenged in what became its eighth-largest margin of victory (42 points) in history. After forcing a Lobo punt on the first series, Jacob De Jesus returned it 59 yards to set up a Jayden Maiava to Ricky White 30-yard touchdown pass on their team's first play on offense, setting the tone early.
 
The visitors would finish with five rushing touchdowns on the night while Maiava posted 247 yards on 13-of-18 passing with three scores and zero turnovers or sacks.
 
Jett Elad had five solo tackles and picked up a fumble and returned it 62 yards to set up a score. While he did not have a field-goal attempt, Jose Pizano shattered the record for kicking points in a season as his seven extra-points gave him 95 points after nine games, besting the UNLV mark of 88 set just last season by Daniel Gutierrez.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Wide receiver Ricky White continued his torrid play with 165 yards on eight receptions for his third 100-yard game in the last four outings. The junior has totaled 565 yards and six touchdowns in the last four games.
 
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV's five rushing touchdowns came from four different players: Vincent Davis Jr. (two), Courtney Reese, Donavyn Lester and QB Cameron Friel.
 
QUOTABLE:
"I was excited about what our team did -- starting fast -- because we knew that was going to be important in getting this game and we wanted to control it early. We talked about being on the road and bouncing back from last week in an environment that we don't have any control over other than how we go out and play one snap at a time. I thought our kids obviously had a terrific start on offense and the defense complemented that side of the ball. The return game was huge and on special teams, we knew we had an advantage there and we wanted to take control of it in the return game. We played good team football and now the race is on because we've got (a game) on Friday night (vs. Wyoming)."
-UNLV Head Coach Barry Odom
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV returns home for its only non-Saturday game of the regular-season when it hosts Wyoming on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:45 pm PT and the game will be televised nationally by FS1.