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The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels returned to postseason play and did something that the program hasn’t done in more than a decade.
UNLV opened up NIT play with a first round defeat of Princeton, 84-77, Wednesday, March 20 from the Jadwin Gymnasium. That win marked the first postseason win for the program in 16 years and marked the team’s first NIT win in close to 20 years.
Wednesday’s matchup was the Rebels’ first game in close to a week and were riding a two-game losing streak. With the win, the team moved to 20-12 this season, securing the first 20-win season for the program since 2017-18 under then-head coach Marvin Menzies.
After taking out the No. 2 seed in its respective quadrant of the bracket, UNLV will now host Boston College this weekend. The game is expected to be played Saturday or Sunday from the Thomas & Mack Center with the tip-off time set to be announced.
A stellar second half shooting performance propelled the Rebels to a narrow win over the Tigers. En route to the victory, the team used a 68% shooting mark in the second half in order to pull away for the win.
It was a 7-0 run just over midway through the second half to push the lead back to double-digits. That lead was eventually stretched to 15 points.
Through the first half both teams virtually split time with the lead.
Princeton wouldn’t go away quietly as the team’s hot three-point shooting pushed the game to the final seconds, forcing vital UNLV free throw makes. At one point, the once 15-point lead was trimmed to just four on a 14-3 run.
For the game, the Rebels shot just about 61% from the field. Junior forward Rob Whaley Jr. led the team in scoring with 21 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting.
Fifth-year forward Keylan Boone recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Boone played without his twin brother, Kalib, as well as fellow fifth-year player Luis Rodriguez.
Kalib is still dealing with a bad ankle that forced him to play just 59 seconds in the Mountain West Tournament. Rodriguez is currently away from the team as he actively deals with a family matter.
UNLV got double-digit scoring performances from fifth-year guard Justin Webster and junior guard Shane Nowell with 15 and 10 points respectively.