LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team defeated New Mexico, 83-73, in its Mountain West home opener at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday night.
It was the Runnin' Rebels' sixth straight win over the Lobos at home and ninth overall in the last 10 meetings with UNM.
Twin brothers Kalib and Keylan Boone combined for 46 points as Kalib scored a career-high 29 and Keylan added a season-high 17. Dedan Thomas Jr. contributed 14 points with seven assists for UNLV (8-6, 1-1), while Luis Rodriguez also scored in double figures with 13 points while adding a team-high eight rebounds.
New Mexico (13-3, 1-2), who entered the game having won 12 of its previous 13 games, was led by Jaelen House and JT Toppin, each with 16 points.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV shot 58.1% (18 of 31) in the second half, leading by as many as 21 points with nine minutes to play.
SECOND-HALF SPURT: With a 40-38 lead at the break, the Runnin' Rebels opened the second half with a 16-6 run to take a 12-point lead with 14 minutes to go (56-44). After UNLV led by as many as 21, the Lobos cut their deficit to nine at 73-64 with 4:29 to play but would get no closer.
QUOTABLE: "I'm obviously ecstatic for the guys. To come back and bounce back and win against another great defensive team and a great team overall that's clicking on all cylinders and to come home and protect home court to start the conference is really important. We learned the other day that we lost Jalen for the year, which was tough. You could tell they had a little different aura about them. There was no question that they were locked in in the two days getting ready for New Mexico. Now we've got to turn it around pretty quickly and get ready for another really good team coming in here on Saturday." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger.
OTHER NOTES:
- The Lobos shot 49.1% overall (27 of 55), but UNLV held them to just 18.2% on 3-pointers (2 of 11).
- UNLV finished the game shooting 50.0% (29 of 58) from the field, including 10 of 22 on 3-pointers (45.5%).
- Kalib Boone was 11 of 16 from the field, while Keylan Boone made 5 of 11 3-pointers.
- Rodriguez tied his season high with four steals.
- UNLV recorded 20 assists on 29 made field goals (69%).
- UNLV limited its turnovers to just 10 for the game.
- UNLV blocked six shots, compared to just one for New Mexico.
- UNLV led in points off turnovers 26-8 after forcing New Mexico into 16 miscues.
- New Mexico led in rebounding, 34-24.
- UNLV was without Jalen Hill and Isaiah Cottrell because of injuries.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,207 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will remain home at the Thomas & Mack Center to host No. 20 Utah State on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 12 p.m.
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.
