The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels defeated the No. 25 New Mexico Lobos 80-77 on Saturday night for their fourth straight win.
The Lobos had an answer for every run UNLV went on and led the way in almost every statistical category, but the Rebels stayed aggressive and dominated the paint — scoring 48 of their 80 points down low.
Freshman point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. set a new career high with 25 points for the Rebels, while junior Rob Whaley Jr. chipped in with 16 points — taking advantage of mismatches when available. Brooklyn Hicks had nine points off the bench.
POSTGAME: UNLV (13-9) sweeps #25 New Mexico (19-5) 80-77 winning 4 straight in conference play.
"We were ready for this game." – @dedanthomasjr scored a career-high 25 PTS at The Pit.
More from the @TheRunninRebels on tonight's Reb Zone at 10:30PM. pic.twitter.com/v4AKkbDGjm
— Paloma Villicana (@PalomaFOX5News) February 11, 2024
Jaelen House and Donovan Dent each scored 20 points for the Lobos, and Jamal Mashburn added 11 points, but they combined for just 13 of 41 (32%) from the field. The Rebels held New Mexico to 35.4% shooting from the floor.
It was UNLV’s second win against a ranked opponent this season as they swept the season series against New Mexico. They also defeated No. 8 Creighton on Dec. 13, but lost to No. 20 Utah State a month later.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: A Look Back at the Basketball Career of UNLV Alum Isaiah Rider
The Rebels are 2-0 against the Lobos this season and have won 10 of their past 11 games against them.
UNLV (13-9) improved to 6-4 in the Mountain West with the win, while New Mexico (19-5) dropped to 7-4 in the conference.
UNLV Coach Kevin Kruger Praises Team After Win
In a postgame interview with Learfield Sports, UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger credited his team for ‘being stubborn’ and ‘disciplined’ — adding that ‘hustle plays won the game.’
“It’s about making sure we get a paint touch, so we can get back defensively if we miss it, or potentially get an offensive rebound. Tonight was just that. If you want to win road games, you got to make shots at the rim,” Kruger said.
BIG DUBBBBSSS pic.twitter.com/B2JLowhha9
— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) February 11, 2024
The Rebels set the tone early with a 16-4 lead through the first seven minutes of action and led for 19:56 of the first half. A three-point play with 3.5 seconds left gave the Lobos a 40-39 lead at halftime.
After allowing the first bucket of the second half, UNLV went on a 15-3 run over the next five minutes to retake control of the game. It was a game of runs, but the Rebels stayed aggressive throughout. The Boone brothers each hit two free throws in the final four seconds of play to seal the deal.
“That’s what makes New Mexico a great team. They adjust and they play accordingly,” Kruger continued. “That’s what we’re continuing to get better where we adjust after we didn’t like (how it was going) early.”
What’s Next?
The Rebels take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-13, 4-7 in MWC) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
UNLV beat Fresno 78-69 on Jan. 30.
Meanwhile, the Lobos face the Nevada Wolf Pack (19-5, 6-4 in MWC) at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
New Mexico crushed Nevada 89-55 on Jan. 28.
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
