LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - It was a Senior Night to remember for the UNLV men's basketball team (19-10, 12-5) as it defeated No. 19 San Diego State 62-58 Tuesday night in its regular-season home finale at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Dedan Thomas Jr. broke a 58-58 tie, nailing a deep step-back jumper with 18 seconds left and then sealed the game with two free throws with 6.5 seconds to play.
The win marked the Runnin' Rebels' fifth-straight victory and 10th in their last 11 games. It was also the team's fourth win of the season against a ranked opponent, marking the first time UNLV has defeated four top-25 teams in a single campaign since 2012-13.
Thomas Jr. led all scorers with 19 points, also adding three rebounds and three assists, while Keylan Boone recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He made a game-high four 3-pointers, had a career-high-tying four blocks, tallied a team-high four assists and recorded two steals.
The Aztecs (22-8, 11-6) had four players score in double figures, led by Elijah Saunders' 14 points. The Runnin' Rebels held Jaedon LeDee, who entered the game as the Mountain West's leading scorer and 17th in the nation at 20.8 points per game, to just 12 points on 2 of 12 from the field.
RUNNIN' REBEL DEFENSE: UNLV held San Diego State to just 8 of 35 shooting in the first half (22.9%). The Aztecs finished the game at just 28.1% (18 of 64).
STATS OF THE GAME: UNLV out-rebounded San Diego State 42-36 and led in points in the paint by 10 (22-12).
QUOTABLE: "Really happy and proud of them. They just deserved it. A handful of weeks ago everyone wrote everyone in this program off and there was a nastiness around it. But they stuck together and continued to work. They won at some tough venues and had some great wins here at home. They are playing for each other and that's why I think they're having as much fun as they are with this run right now. There are a lot of things to be proud of tonight and in the conference season with one game left, but these guys know they can enjoy it tonight and they can enjoy it tomorrow on an off day, but when we get back Thursday it will be with a great intent to get ready for Reno." - UNLV head coach
Kevin Kruger.
OTHER NOTES:
- The win snapped a six-game losing streak to San Diego State overall and six straight to the Aztecs at the Thomas & Mack Center.
- UNLV is now tied for second in the Mountain West standings, just one-half game out of first place.
- UNLV is on its second five-game win streak this conference season.
- UNLV is 7-2 in its last nine games against ranked teams (all under Kruger).
- This is UNLV's first 10-1 stretch in conference play since going undefeated (18-0) in the Big West back in 1991-92.
- UNLV led by as many as 17 points in the first half when it was 27-10 with 8 minutes until halftime.
- UNLV held the lead in the game for one second shy of 37 minutes.
- The Runnin' Rebels led 33-28 at halftime.
- UNLV shot 44.0% (11 of 25) in the first half, including 50% on 3-pointers (5 of 10), and finished the game at 40% from the field (20 of 50), including 44.4% on 3-pointers (8 of 18).
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Kalib Boone had six points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals, while
Luis Rodriguez scored eight points with eight rebounds.
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Karl Jones had his best game of the season with five points, six rebounds and two blocks.
- UNLV continues to be without
Jalen Hill, who is out of the rest of the season (ACL).
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,222 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will close out the regular season at UNR on Saturday. The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
