The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 61-53 loss to Colorado State on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Jailen Bedford led the Runnin’ Rebels with 17 points off the bench. The Runnin’ Rebels were without guard Dedan Thomas, Jr for the first time this season. He was seen on the sideline wearing a shoulder brace according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Jeremiah Cherry added 16 points and six rebounds.
Jalen Hill added 10 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.
Colorado State was led by Nique Clifford, who had 14 points,14 rebounds, and five assists.
Kyan Evans scored 14 points and had five assists. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson added 10 points.
UNLV only connected 7 of its 17 free-throw attempts.
With five minutes into the game, the Runnin’ Rebels found themselves down 14-2 but came back to tie the game at 18 with 6:30 to go until half-time.
The Rams held on to a one-point lead, 27-26 going into half-time.
Colorado State came out in the second half with an 8-1 run, but the Runnin’ Rebels came thundering back with a long three-point shot from Bedford that gave them the lead, 37-36, with 13 minutes left to play.
The Rams pushed the lead back to eight, 48-40 with 7:30 left in the game.
The Runnin’ Rebels kept attempting to battle back with a hook shot from Cherry with 3:11 to go.
Colorado State then held the Runnin’ Rebels scoreless, finishing the game with an 8-0 run.
“Obviously, a tough one. We did what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win the game. Guys were locked in. There was disappointment in the locker room because of the investment put in, getting ready for a very good Colorado State team,’ UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “There are a lot of great things that we will take from the film, but the most important thing is that I am so unbelievably, incredibly proud of them for taking that prep and for giving it every single thing they had out there, trying to make it work in a number of situations that were new and that hopefully lights even more of a fire for us tomorrow to get ready for another really good team in conference.”
The Runnin’ Rebels will take on San Jose State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
