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LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The UNLV men’s basketball team nearly upset No. 22 Dayton Tuesday night at University of Dayton Arena, but Dedan Thomas Jr. missed what would have been the game winner at the buzzer in the 66-65 loss.
Thomas Jr. scored a game-high 16 points for the Runnin’ Rebels (5-5), while Jaden Henley scored 15 and Julian Rishwain added 12.
The Flyers (10-2) had four players score in double figures, led by Nate Santos’ 14 points.
HOW IT ENDED: Henley scored a basket in the paint and was fouled, making the free throw, to give UNLV a 62-58 lead with 1:25 to go. Santos responded with a 3-pointer 10 seconds later and after a missed 3-point attempt by Thomas Jr., Dayton’s Malachi Smith scored on a fast-break layup to give the Flyers a one-point lead with 37 seconds left. Rishwain hit a 3-pointer with 23 seconds to go giving UNLV the lead again, 65-63, but Smith answered once again with a basket and was fouled, making the free throw and giving Dayton a 66-65 advantage with eight seconds left. Thomas Jr. drove the left side of the lane and pulled up on the baseline, missing a mid-range jumper at the buzzer that would have given the Runnin’ Rebels the win.
“It was a great atmosphere and turned out to be a great college basketball game, but there are things that we need to clean up. We need to keep taking steps to get better. We will have some good teaching points from this game, both positive and on the other side. This was a heartbreaker. We will have a really good couple of days of practices and be ready to get back out there to play on Saturday,” said UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger.
NOTES:
– This was just the second meeting all-time between the two teams. The series is now tied 1-1.
– This game was scheduled to be played last season, but the shooting on UNLV’s campus resulted in it being canceled.
– Dayton extended its homecourt win streak to 25 games.
– Henley led UNLV in rebounding with seven and shot 5 of 8 from the field, making all five of his free-throw attempts and recording a steal.
– Rishwain was 4 of 7 on 3-pointers. He has made 9 of 14 from deep over the last two games.
– Thomas Jr. dished out six assists with no turnovers and recorded a steal.
– Dayton’s Enoch Cheeks had a game-high 10 rebounds and also recorded six assists with only one turnover.
– UNLV led 28-27 at halftime.
– Dayton started the second half by scoring the first nine points to take an eight-point lead, but UNLV chipped away and tied the game at 40-40 with 13 minutes to go.
– There were eight lead changes and seven ties throughout the game. Dayton held the lead for over 31 minutes, while UNLV had it for just four.
– UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,237 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN’ REBELS: UNLV will return home to play at the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in 28 days as it hosts UC Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games at the Thomas & Mack Center may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
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