LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Kimani Hamilton combined to score 47 points as the UNLV men's basketball team defeated San Jose State, 82-75, for its second-straight win Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Gibbs-Lawhorn scored a game-high 24 points with five assists and three steals for the Runnin' Rebels (12-12, 7-6), while Hamilton had his first double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrin Jones returned from injury, scoring 13 points with three blocks.
The Spartans (6-18, 1-12) were led by Colby Garland's 23 points. Pasha Goodarzi added 21, while Japhet Moupadele scored 11.
SEASON SWEEP: The win gave UNLV a regular-season sweep over San Jose State. The Runnin' Rebels also defeated the Spartans earlier this season in San Jose, 76-62, on Jan. 17.
SIX IN A ROW: Tuesday night's win over San Jose State was UNLV's sixth straight win over the Spartans.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV outscored San Jose State in points in the paint 40-14.
QUOTABLE: "Good win for the Rebels. Winning is hard. I was really proud of our guys. I'm not happy with our win-loss record, but we have improved. From where we were at the beginning of November to where we are now, we are a better team. That's a testament to our guys." - UNLV head coach Josh Pastner
OTHER NOTES:
- Gibbs-Lawhorn has now scored 20+ points in four straight games and six of the last seven.
- Gibbs-Lawhorn was 10 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, Hamilton shot 6 of 9, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and made 8 of 9 free throws, and Jones was 6 of 8 from the field.
- UNLV held San Jose State to just 33.3% shooting in the second half (9 of 27) and 38.1% for the game (24 of 63). The Spartans made 11 of 24 3-pointers (45.8%).
- UNLV shot 51.5% in the first half (17 of 33), finishing at 49.2% for the game (30 of 61).
- SJSU's Adrian Myers had a game-high eight assists with only one turnover.
- UNLV led 45-41 at the half and was up by as many as 13 points in the second half (70-57, 8:56).
- UNLV outrebounded SJSU, 43-34, and outscored the Spartans on fast breaks, 12-2.
- UNLV has made a 3-pointer in 1,284 straight games - every one since the NCAA adopted the rule in 1986.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV's next action will be at Boise State on Friday, Feb. 13. The 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT game will be televised nationally on FS1.
