Provided content from UNLV Athletics
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The UNLV men‘s basketball team (1-1) lost to Memphis (2-0) in a close game Saturday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center, 80-74.
The game featured eight lead changes and nine ties, including one with 3:25 to play at 68-all, but a late spurt by the Tigers, who shot 71.4% from the floor in the second half (20 of 28), proved to be the difference.
Memphis‘ PJ Haggerty led all scorers with 29 points on 10 of 18 shooting and 9 of 12 on free throws.
Colby Rogers and Nicholas Jourdain also scored in double figures with 16 and 12 points, respectively, and Dain Dainja grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points and four assists.
Dedan Thomas Jr. led the Runnin’ Rebels with 22 points, but was held without an assist for the first time in his 36 games as a collegian.
Jalen Hill added 14 points with five rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Jailen Bedford scored 10 points and Bear Cherry tallied nine points with team highs of seven rebounds and two blocks.
HOW IT ENDED: UNLV led 69-68 with 3:25 to play after two Hill free throws, but Memphis scored seven straight points to take control. A Jaden Henley 3-pointer cut the deficit to three with 54 seconds left, but a Haggerty basket and free throw on the play pushed the lead back to six. UNLV cut it to four with 20 seconds to go but would get no closer.
QUOTABLE: “It was a good, competitive game. Both teams obviously played really hard. We weren’t quite able to get a little more separation and they went on a run, doing a good job speeding us up. A couple of turnovers late turned into points, which ended up being the difference in the game. It is early in the season and to play a team like Memphis right now, they are going to win a lot of games, but also leave knowing that we feel that we can play better and that we can continue to work and get better as a group. That’s what we will do as we get ready for a good Omaha team.” – UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger.
NOTES: – This was the sixth all-time meeting between UNLV and Memphis in men‘s basketball, but the first since the 1997 NIT. UNLV is 4-2 all-time against the Tigers.- The Runnin’ Rebels held Memphis to just 32.1% shooting in the first half (9 of 28), including 1 of 9 on 3-pointers. – Memphis finished the game at 51.8% shooting overall, while UNLV was at 39.7%.- UNLV led by as many as 12 points late in the first half, but Memphis cut its deficit to just four at the break (34-30).- UNLV held the outright led for 25:24 of the contest, with Memphis doing the same for just 8:29.- Memphis led in rebounding 39-33 and in points in the paint 36-24.- UNLV led in points from turnovers 18-12. UNLV committed just 10 miscues.- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,229 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN’ REBELS: UNLV will continue its season-opening five-game homestand on Thursday, Nov. 14 with a 7 p.m. game vs. Omaha at the Thomas & Mack Center.
TICKETS: UNLV men’s basketball tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
-UNLV-
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
