.png)
UNLV just couldn’t get out of it’s own way in the team’s latest outing, resulting in a close six-point loss.
The Rebels were defeated, 69-63, by the Boise State Broncos, Friday, Feb. 11 from ExtraMile Arena in Idaho.
That’s now six road losses in eight tries.
Moreover, the program has now lost its last four meetings with Boise State, having not won since the 2019-20 season.
Overall, the Rebels have not beaten the Broncos in Idaho since the 2018-19 season.
After winning three of its last four outings, UNLV has now dropped two of its last three.
As it stands, the team is 14-11 on the year and 6-6 in the Mountain West, good for the sixth spot in the standings.
Another conference road game is next with Fresno State the destination.
The Rebels will play the Bulldogs, Wednesday, Feb. 16 with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Coming into this game, UNLV was 13-1 when leading at halftime. By the end of this game, the Rebels had suffered its second such loss under the circumstances.
The lead at halftime came from an 18-point half inspired by senior guard Bryce Hamilton, who is top-10 in the nation in scoring.
His effort came in the absence of junior forward Donovan Williams yet again, who missed his fourth game of the season.
Early in the second half, Hamilton tallied his 13th 20-point game of the season, in 20 minutes of action.
Almost immediately after, he picked up two offensive foul calls in a two minute-span, giving him a total of three.
Playing in foul trouble, Hamilton put up his sixth 30-point game of the season.
However, down four with about three and a half minutes left in regulation, Hamilton missed two free throws.
UNLV would make another run before the end of the game but never got closer than two points.
Hamilton finished with 32 points on 50% shooting with four made three-pointers but went 4-of-7 from the free throw line.
He was the only Rebel player to shoot free throws.
To start the game, UNLV raced out to an early nine-point lead with fifth-year guard Mike Nuga, leading the way with seven points.
Yet, as it has many times this season, the Rebel offense went cold, going scoreless for more than four minutes.
Despite the cold stretch, Boise State was only able to grab a lead as large as two in the first half.
The seven-point UNLV halftime lead slowly dissipated.
More ties came in the second half to the tune of five lead changes and seven ties in the entire 40-minute game.
Boise State’s largest lead was first five, then seven.
The consistent grind on both ends of the floor led the Broncos to the win, as it beat the Rebels in the rebounding category, 35-26.
Moreover, Boise State connected on 23-of-29 free throw attempts while UNLV was limited to Hamilton’s 4-of-7.
As a team, the Rebels were fouls for 11 more fouls then the Broncos, 24-13.
Comments