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LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The UNLV men’s basketball team was defeated by Utah State, 80-60, in the quarterfinal round of the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championships on Thursday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Mason Falslev led the Aggies (26-6) with 24 points and nine rebounds, while MJ Collins added 20 points.
The Runnin’ Rebels (17-16) had three players score in double figures in Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (17 points), Kimani Hamilton (11 points), and Walter Brown (career-high 11 points). Tyrin Jones added nine points and nine rebounds.
TURNING POINT: After five lead changes and one tie in the game, Utah State closed the first half on a 14-2 run to take a 37-23 lead into the break.
STAT OF THE GAME: Utah State led in points from turnovers, 23-3. The Runnin’ Rebels committed 19 turnovers, while the Aggies had 13.
SHOOTING PERCENTAGES: Utah State shot 55.6% in the first half (15 of 27), while UNLV shot just 36.0% in the first 20 minutes (9 of 25). The Aggies finished the game at 50.9% (29 of 57), while the Runnin’ Rebels made 40.7% (22 of 54).
FOUL TROUBLE: UNLV’s Kimani Hamilton fouled out with 9:17 to play, while Howie Fleming Jr. fouled out with 5:08 to go. UNLV’s normal rotation of late included just seven players.
OTHER NOTES:
– This marked just the second time UNLV and Utah State have met in the Mountain West Tournament. The Aggies also won in 2021.
– UNLV had swept the regular-season against Utah State this year with an 86-76 win in Logan, Utah, on Jan. 20, and a 92-65 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 3.- UNLV’s 60 points tied its season low (also had 60 vs. Tennessee State on Dec. 13).
– Gibbs-Lawhorn, the Mountain West’s leading scorer, was held to just two points in the first half.
– Utah State led in points in the paint, 40-26, bench scoring, 25-9, and fastbreak points, 14-4.
– UNLV led in total rebounding, 36-33, as well as offensive rebounds, 12-9.
– UNLV was 8 of 15 on free throws (53.3%), while Utah State was 14 of 22 (63.6%).
– Utah State recorded 12 steals to UNLV’s five.
– Falslev was 10 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, while Colins was 7 of 15 from the floor.
– Gibbs-Lawhorn made six of 17 shots, while Brown and Hamilton were each 4 of 6. Gibbs-Lawhorn made three 3-pointers, with Brown and Hamilton making two apiece. Brown added six rebounds, while Hamilton had three steals.
– UNLV has made a 3-pointer in 1,293 straight games – every one since the NCAA adopted the rule in 1986.
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