Runnin' Rebels Suffer Shocking 87-86 Loss To No. 20 Utah State Saturday

Saturday, January 13

Thomas & Mack Center

12:00 PM PT

University of Nevada Las Vegas

8-7,1-2Mountain West

No. 20 Utah State

16-1,4-0Mountain West

Team	1	2	F
Utah St.	40	47	87
UNLV	47	39	86

1/13/2024 5:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score FINAL STATS (PDF)

Aggies made a five-point play with eight seconds left at the Thomas & Mack Center; Luis Rodriguez scored a season-high 23 points with nine rebounds to lead UNLV and Dedan Thomas Jr. had a double-double with a career-high 11 assists.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team suffered a shocking 87-86 loss Saturday to No. 20 Utah State at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The game was decided on an Aggie five-point play with eight seconds left.

Six UNLV (8-7, 1-2) players scored in double figures, led by Luis Rodriguez' season-high 23 points. He also had a team-high nine rebounds, while Dedan Thomas Jr. recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 11 assists (with only one turnover).

Utah State (16-1) was led by Ian Martinez and Great Osobor, who scored 24 points apiece. Martinez was 6 of 8 on 3-pointers, while Osobor was 12 of 13 from the free-throw line and added 14 rebounds.

HOW IT ENDED: Rodriguez made both of his free throw attempts to give UNLV an 86-82 lead with 14 seconds remaining. Darius Brown took the inbound pass down the right side of the court and made an off-balance 3-pointer. While the ball was in the air, Kalib Boone was called for a foul in the lane on Osobor, who then made both of his free throw attempts. Thomas Jr.'s potential game-winning jumper from the left elbow with two seconds left was long off the back of the rim.

OTHER NOTES:
- UNLV entered the game having won four of its previous five outings against ranked teams.
- Kalib Boone added 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting with six rebounds and four steals.
- Rob Whaley scored a season-high-tying 11 points with a career-high eight rebounds, while Keylan Boone and Jackie Johnson III each added 10 points.
- Rodriguez, who was 7 of 14 from the field including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers, has now scored in double figures in seven straight games.
- UNLV led by as many as 13 points early in the second half after holding a 47-40 halftime lead.
- UNLV led from the opening basket until eight seconds to play in the game.
- UNLV had a season-low-tying five turnovers for the game.
- Utah State shot 48.2% from the field (27 of 56), including 47.6% on 3-pointers (10 of 21). It only missed two free throws, making 92% from the line (23 of 25).
- UNLV shot 53.3% (16 of 30) from the field in the first half, finishing at 44.4% (28 of 63) for the game. It finished at 29.2% on 3-pointers (7 of 24).
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,208 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will head out on the road for its next two games, at Boise State on Tuesday and at No. 17 Colorado State on Friday.

TICKETS: UNLV men's basketball tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.