LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team won its third straight game as it defeated Wyoming 62-48 Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Three players were in double figures in scoring for the Runnin' Rebels (12-9, 5-4) with Keylan Boone and Dedan Thomas Jr. leading the way with 14 points apiece. Luis Rodriguez added 12.
The Cowboys (12-10, 5-4), who entered the contest having won four of their previous five games, had their two-game win streak snapped. Cam Manyawu led them in scoring with 13 points, while Brendan Wenzel had 12. Mason Walters had a game-high 13 rebounds.
STATS OF THE GAME: UNLV committed just four turnovers on the night and converted Wyoming's 14 miscues into 21 points.
SECOND-HALF RUN: Leading 31-23 at halftime, UNLV opened the game's final 20 minutes with an 11-0 spurt to take a 19-point lead (42-23) with 13 minutes to go.
QUOTABLE: "I'm really proud of our guys, knowing and respecting how good of a team Wyoming is, how much better they've been getting and how hard they play, I thought it was evident in the way we prepped and how we played. Knowing how well they shoot it, I thought tonight was about as good as we have been in terms of executing what the points of emphasis were. We did a really good job of forcing tough shots, forcing some shots out of rhythm and just knowing how important that was in guarding a really good shooting team like Wyoming." - UNLV head coach
Kevin Kruger.
OTHER NOTES:
- UNLV missed two key members of its team for the third straight game in
Jalen Hill (out of rest of season/ACL) and
Justin Webster (ankle).
- UNLV improved to 45-20 all-time in the series with Wyoming, including 31-4 in home games.
- UNLV led by as many as 23 points in the second half.
- UNLV led in points in the paint 32-24 and in fastbreak points 9-2.
- Boone also led the team in rebounding with seven and added four assists and two steals.
- Thomas Jr. dished out a game-high five assists and recorded a season-high four steals.
- As a team UNLV had 10 steals, while Wyoming had none.
- UNLV held Wyoming to just 32.1% shooting (9 of 28) in the first half and 1 of 9 on 3-pointers (11.1%) in the second half. The Cowboys' totals for the game were 34.6% (18 of 52) from the field and 16.0% (4 of 25) on 3-pointers.
- UNLV shot 48.1% from the field in the second half (13 of 27), finishing the game at 43.9% (25 of 57). The Runnin Rebels were 40% (8 of 20) on 3-pointers.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,214 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will have a week between games as its next contest will be at No. 19/20 New Mexico on Saturday, Feb. 10. The 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
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.
