Brooklyn Hicks
59
Air Force USAFA 4-28,1-19 Mountain West
68
Winner UNLV UNLV 18-14,11-9 Mountain West
Air Force USAFA
4-28,1-19 Mountain West
59
Final
68
UNLV UNLV
18-14,11-9 Mountain West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Air Force USAFA 25 34 59
UNLV UNLV 21 47 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Shorthanded Runnin' Rebels Get Past Air Force, 68-59, To Advance To Thursday's MW Quarterfinal

Jalen Hill played all 40 minutes and led UNLV with season highs of 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as it used a 19-0 run late in the second half.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Four Runnin' Rebels scored in double figures for a severely shorthanded UNLV men's basketball team in its 68-59 win in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Jalen Hill, who played the game's entire 40 minutes, led No. 6 seed UNLV (18-14) with season highs of 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Jailen Bedford and Bear Cherry each scored 13 and Jaden Henley contributed 12 points. Bedford left the game for a considerable amount of time in the first half after being hit above the eye. He returned after the second half began with it bandaged up, finishing with nine rebounds and three 3-pointers.

No. 11 seed Air Force (4-28) was led by Ethan Taylor's 23 points and six rebounds. He was 7 of 14 on 3-pointers.

TURNING POINT: Trailing 47-41 with 11 minutes to play in the game, UNLV went on a game-changing 19-0 run to take a 60-47 lead with four minutes to go. 

STAT OF THE GAME: After shooting just 24.1% (7 of 29) from the field in the first half, UNLV made 72.7% of its attempts (16 of 22) during the final 20 minutes.

MISSING PLAYERS: UNLV was down to just six healthy players that were a part of this season's normal rotation as the game began, missing Julian Rishwain, Dedan Thomas Jr., Rob Whaley Jr. and Jace Whiting all because of injury.

QUOTABLE: "It was a good game, obviously if you're watching it as a fan. A lot of good plays made by both sides. But for our  guys specifically, I am so proud of them and appreciative of them for continuing to fight over these last handful of weeks, no matter what comes their way. They did everything they could possibly do to be ready for this one." - UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger.

OTHER NOTES: 
- UNLV improved its all-time MW Tournament record to 30-21 and is now 7-0 against the Falcons in the event.
- UNLV is now 36-3 against Air Force at home and has won four in a row overall against the Falcons, seven of the last eight and 12 of the last 14.
- UNLV held Air Force to just 35.1% from the field (20 of 57), including 28.9% on 3-pointers (11 of 38).
- UNLV got to the free-throw line 17 more times than Air Force did but made just 61.5% of its attempts (16 of 26).
- UNLV out-rebounded Air Force 40-32, improving its record to 12-2 when recording more rebounds than its opponent.
- UNLV outscored Air Force in the paint, 34-18.
- Air Force's largest lead was eight points with just under 16 minutes left.
- There were five lead changes and two ties throughout the game.
- Air Force held a 25-21 lead at the half.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,259 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: With the win, UNLV has advanced to the Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals and will face No. 3 seed Utah State on Thursday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, while the radio call may be heard on ESPN Radio Las Vegas and SiriusXM.

TICKETS: Tickets to the Mountain West Tournament may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office. 





 
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