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Twenty-three days away from home and the first home game in the wake of this month’s tragic events, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels added another win to their record in pull away fashion.
After going 1-2 on its road trip, UNLV returned to the Thomas & Mack Center for a, 74-56, win over Hofstra Thursday, Dec. 21. The program has now won three straight home games as it
improved to 5-5 on the year.
Thursday’s game marked the start of a three-game homestand with Carroll College next on the schedule slated for a New Year’s Eve matinee with tip-off set for noon. The homestand is now a three-game stretch after head coach Kevin Kruger and company added Bethesda on the ledger for Tuesday, Jan. 2.
UNLV had to withstand a feverous start to the second half by Hofstra after taking a 12-point lead into halftime. The visitors came out of the locker room on a 14-2 run to tie the game before extending it by another basket to take their first lead of the game.
Fifth-year forward Keylan Boone scored five straight points after the Pride took the lead, crossing over into double-figures in the process. He ended the night with a team-high 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks in just his third game as a Rebel.
In those three games, the team holds a 2-1 record.
Fifth-year guard Luis Rodriguez pushed the lead back to double-digits in the second half during a 9-0 run that was punctuated by his steal and dunk. Soon after he connected on his third made three of the game which tied a season-high. He is now six for his last 10 attempts from deep.
Rodriguez recorded a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block.
Junior guard Jackie Johnson III scored seven of his 10 points in the second half as the team stretched its lead to as large as 20 points. Boone and Johnson III helped lead a bench charge that poured in 29 points, 16 more than its opponent.
As a team, UNLV shot 48% from the field while holding its opponent to 38% on the other side of the floor.
Fifth-year forward Kalib Boone was perfect from the field on four attempts for nine points after being held scoreless in the team’s last outing. To ensure it wouldn’t happen again, Kruger drew up the game’s opening play for Kalib who scored from inside the paint.