UNLV wins 80-77 at No. 25 New Mexico to sweep season series behind 25 points from Thomas
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Freshman guard Dedan Thomas Jr. scored a career-high 25 points, leading UNLV to an 80-77 victory over No. 25 New Mexico on Saturday.
It was the second consecutive home loss for the Lobos (19-5, 7-4 Mountain West), who hadn't been beaten at home before that.
Rob Whaley Jr. added 16 points for the Runnin’ Rebels (13-9, 6-4), who swept the two-game season series. Thomas was 8 of 12 from the field and 8 for 10 at the foul line with four assists and two turnovers against the Lobos, who are averaging just shy of 10 steals a game.
“When you have a point guard that you’re comfortable with, you know you’re going to get good looks,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “You know the ball is going to be taken care of.”
Jaelen House and Donovan Dent each scored 20 to lead New Mexico. House, however, was 4 of 15 from the field and teammate Jamal Mashburn Jr. went 3 for 15 in scoring 11 points.
“I thought for the most part, the guys did a good job of staying in front and making as many shots be as tough as possible,” Kruger said of his team's defense on New Mexico’s guards.
UNLV took the lead for good with just over a minute remaining on a short hook shot by Kalib Boone, breaking a 72-all tie.
New Mexico used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to take a 57-54 lead with 11:20 left. It went back and forth from there, with the game tied five times.
UNLV scored the first seven points of the game and held the Lobos scoreless for more than four minutes. They didn’t make a field goal until six minutes in when Mashburn drove the lane for a layup.
The Rebels built their advantage to 16-4 before New Mexico pulled to 18-15.
New Mexico took its first lead by closing the first half with a 7-2 run, capped by JT Toppin's three-point play, to go up 40-39. But after the Lobos made the first bucket of the second half, UNLV scored the next nine points to open a 48-42 advantage.
“Every time we would go on a run, you would just be kind of hoping, let’s try and get two more, let’s try and get two more,” Kruger said. “Let’s see if we can get this further because you know they’re going to go on a run.”
BIG PICTURE
New Mexico dropped out of a tie for first place in the MWC and could fall out of the AP Top 25 on Monday.
“It is obviously disappointing to drop two in a row at home, to not take advantage of an amazing crowd," Lobos coach Richard Pitino said. "You have to give UNLV a lot of credit - they went out and got it. They are a talented team, well-coached, played hard and their size and length bothered us. They made free throws when they needed to at the end. We just kept coming back, tying the game or taking a one-point lead, but we just couldn’t build a lead to get over the hump.”
The Rebels' win pushes them into a crowded chase for the conference title, just one loss behind frontrunner Utah State.
INSIDE JOB
While Thomas ran the show for UNLV, it was the Rebels' play down low that proved to be the difference as they outscored New Mexico 48-26 in the paint.
“They’re strong at the rim,” Pitino said. “They’re tough at the rim. We have to do a much better job of making those. They were shooting like 70% at the rim. So we’ve got to be way more disruptive.”
UP NEXT
New Mexico heads to Nevada on Tuesday. The Lobos routed Nevada two weeks ago, 89-55.
UNLV plays at Fresno State on Wednesday after beating the Bulldogs 78-69 two weeks ago.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Keylan Boone vs. JT Toppin (Rob Whaley Jr. gains possession) | |||
19:34 | Jaelen House shooting foul | |||
19:34 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 1-0 | |
19:34 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 2-0 | |
19:34 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 3-0 | |
19:07 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
19:05 | Rob Whaley Jr. defensive rebound | |||
18:46 | Luis Rodriguez misses three point jump shot | |||
18:44 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. defensive rebound | |||
18:17 | Nelly Junior Joseph turnover | |||
17:57 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover (Nelly Junior Joseph steals) | |||
17:53 | Jaelen House turnover (lost ball) | |||
17:37 | Rob Whaley Jr. turnover (JT Toppin steals) | |||
17:24 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. turnover (out of bounds) | |||
17:09 | Nelly Junior Joseph blocks Rob Whaley Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
17:07 | Runnin' Rebels offensive rebound | |||
17:06 | Luis Rodriguez misses two point jump shot | |||
17:04 | Keylan Boone offensive rebound | |||
16:58 | +2 | Keylan Boone makes two point layup | 5-0 | |
16:49 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
16:45 | JT Toppin offensive rebound | |||
16:39 | Jaelen House misses three point jump shot | |||
16:37 | JT Toppin offensive rebound | |||
16:33 | JT Toppin misses two point jump shot | |||
16:32 | Kalib Boone defensive rebound | |||
16:32 | Nelly Junior Joseph personal foul | |||
16:08 | Luis Rodriguez misses two point jump shot | |||
16:06 | Keylan Boone offensive rebound | |||
16:00 | Keylan Boone misses two point jump shot | |||
15:58 | Karl Jones offensive rebound | |||
15:58 | +2 | Karl Jones makes two point layup | 7-0 | |
15:58 | TV timeout | |||
15:58 | Karl Jones shooting foul | |||
15:58 | TV timeout | |||
15:58 | Karl Jones shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul) | |||
15:58 | +1 | Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-1 | |
15:58 | +1 | Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-2 | |
15:43 | JT Toppin shooting foul (Keylan Boone draws the foul) | |||
15:43 | Keylan Boone misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
15:43 | +1 | Keylan Boone makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-2 | |
15:30 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
15:28 | Runnin' Rebels defensive rebound | |||
15:08 | +2 | Brooklyn Hicks makes two point layup | 10-2 | |
14:55 | Keylan Boone shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul) | |||
14:55 | JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:55 | JT Toppin misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
14:55 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
14:32 | +2 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes two point layup | 12-2 | |
14:01 | +2 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. makes two point layup | 12-4 | |
13:38 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup (Kalib Boone assists) | 14-4 | |
13:26 | Kalib Boone blocks Jaelen House's two point jump shot | |||
13:24 | Brooklyn Hicks defensive rebound | |||
13:20 | +2 | Brooklyn Hicks makes two point layup | 16-4 | |
13:20 | Lobos 60 second timeout | |||
13:15 | +3 | Jaelen House makes three point jump shot | 16-7 | |
12:53 | JT Toppin blocks Kalib Boone's two point layup | |||
12:51 | JT Toppin defensive rebound | |||
12:45 | Tru Washington turnover (bad pass) | |||
12:25 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses two point hook shot | |||
12:23 | JT Toppin defensive rebound | |||
12:17 | Mustapha Amzil misses three point jump shot | |||
12:15 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
11:44 | Runnin' Rebels turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
11:44 | TV timeout | |||
11:35 | Jackie Johnson III personal foul (Jaelen House draws the foul) | |||
11:20 | Luis Rodriguez blocks Jaelen House's two point layup | |||
11:18 | Dedan Thomas Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 18-7 | |
10:39 | Luis Rodriguez personal foul (Mustapha Amzil draws the foul) | |||
10:35 | Mustapha Amzil misses three point jump shot | |||
10:33 | Jackie Johnson III defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot | |||
10:17 | Mustapha Amzil defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | +3 | Mustapha Amzil makes three point jump shot (Tru Washington assists) | 18-10 | |
9:49 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
9:47 | Runnin' Rebels offensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Donovan Dent personal foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul) | |||
9:28 | Brooklyn Hicks misses two point jump shot | |||
9:26 | Tru Washington defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | Keylan Boone personal foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul) | |||
8:57 | Nelly Junior Joseph misses two point layup | |||
8:55 | Mustapha Amzil offensive rebound | |||
8:48 | +3 | Tru Washington makes three point jump shot (Mustapha Amzil assists) | 18-13 | |
8:38 | Tru Washington personal foul (Kalib Boone draws the foul) | |||
8:34 | Luis Rodriguez turnover (Tru Washington steals) | |||
8:16 | +2 | Nelly Junior Joseph makes two point layup (Mustapha Amzil assists) | 18-15 | |
8:16 | Brooklyn Hicks shooting foul (Nelly Junior Joseph draws the foul) | |||
8:16 | Nelly Junior Joseph misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:16 | Mustapha Amzil offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | Kalib Boone blocks Tru Washington's two point layup | |||
8:07 | Mustapha Amzil offensive rebound | |||
8:01 | Mustapha Amzil turnover (Luis Rodriguez steals) | |||
7:53 | +3 | Brooklyn Hicks makes three point jump shot (Luis Rodriguez assists) | 21-15 | |
7:30 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup | 21-17 | |
7:24 | Nelly Junior Joseph blocks Luis Rodriguez's two point layup | |||
7:22 | Tru Washington defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:12 | Kalib Boone defensive rebound | |||
6:56 | Kalib Boone misses two point hook shot | |||
6:54 | Runnin' Rebels offensive rebound | |||
6:53 | TV timeout | |||
6:48 | +3 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes three point jump shot (Rob Whaley Jr. assists) | 24-17 | |
6:36 | Brooklyn Hicks personal foul (Jaelen House draws the foul) | |||
6:36 | +1 | Jaelen House makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-18 | |
6:36 | +1 | Jaelen House makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-19 | |
6:11 | +2 | Luis Rodriguez makes two point layup (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 26-19 | |
6:00 | Mustapha Amzil turnover (bad pass) | |||
5:40 | Jackie Johnson III misses two point jump shot | |||
5:38 | JT Toppin defensive rebound | |||
5:33 | Rob Whaley Jr. blocks Jaelen House's two point layup | |||
5:31 | Jackie Johnson III defensive rebound | |||
5:23 | +2 | Kalib Boone makes two point dunk (Jackie Johnson III assists) | 28-19 | |
5:11 | Donovan Dent turnover (Kalib Boone steals) | |||
5:02 | +2 | Jackie Johnson III makes two point layup | 30-19 | |
4:44 | Luis Rodriguez personal foul (Jamal Mashburn Jr. draws the foul) | |||
4:44 | +1 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-20 | |
4:44 | +1 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-21 | |
4:27 | Nelly Junior Joseph blocks Dedan Thomas Jr.'s two point layup | |||
4:25 | Jaelen House defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | +3 | Jaelen House makes three point jump shot | 30-24 | |
4:18 | Runnin' Rebels 30 second timeout | |||
4:18 | TV timeout | |||
4:09 | +2 | Jackie Johnson III makes two point layup | 32-24 | |
3:51 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup | 32-26 | |
3:32 | Rob Whaley Jr. misses two point layup | |||
3:30 | Nelly Junior Joseph defensive rebound | |||
3:18 | JT Toppin misses three point jump shot | |||
3:16 | Nelly Junior Joseph offensive rebound | |||
3:16 | Kalib Boone personal foul (Nelly Junior Joseph draws the foul) | |||
3:16 | Nelly Junior Joseph misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
3:16 | Jamal Mashburn Jr. offensive rebound | |||
3:13 | +2 | JT Toppin makes two point layup (Jamal Mashburn Jr. assists) | 32-28 | |
3:13 | Kalib Boone shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul) | |||
3:13 | +1 | JT Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-29 | |
2:56 | Nelly Junior Joseph shooting foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:56 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-29 | |
2:56 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:56 | Mustapha Amzil defensive rebound | |||
2:48 | Jaelen House misses two point jump shot | |||
2:46 | JT Toppin offensive rebound | |||
2:41 | +2 | JT Toppin makes two point layup | 33-31 | |
2:29 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point dunk (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 35-31 | |
2:08 | Justin Webster shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul) | |||
2:08 | +1 | Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-32 | |
2:08 | +1 | Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-33 | |
1:45 | Jackie Johnson III turnover (Donovan Dent steals) | |||
1:39 | JT Toppin misses two point layup | |||
1:37 | Keylan Boone defensive rebound | |||
1:30 | +2 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes two point layup | 37-33 | |
1:18 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup | 37-35 | |
1:03 | Jackie Johnson III turnover (Donovan Dent steals) | |||
0:56 | Mustapha Amzil misses three point jump shot | |||
0:54 | Runnin' Rebels defensive rebound | |||
0:52 | Tru Washington personal foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
0:52 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:52 | Mustapha Amzil defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup | 37-37 | |
0:16 | +2 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes two point jump shot | 39-37 | |
0:05 | Donovan Dent misses two point layup | |||
0:03 | JT Toppin offensive rebound | |||
0:02 | +2 | JT Toppin makes two point layup | 39-39 | |
0:02 | Karl Jones shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul) | |||
0:02 | +1 | JT Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-40 | |
0:00 | End of period |