Thomas' 19 points and tiebreaking basket lead UNLV to 62-58 win over No. 21 San Diego State
LAS VEGAS (AP) Dedan Thomas scored 19 points and put UNLV ahead for good on a 19-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds left, giving the Rebels a 62-58 victory over No. 21 San Diego State on Tuesday night.
It was the fourth win against a ranked team for the surging Rebels (19-10, 12-5 Mountain West), who have won 10 of 11 overall. Keylan Boone had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
“We didn't start the season out how we wanted to, but we're finishing it out like how we want to,” Boone said.
Elijah Saunders led San Diego State (22-8, 11-6) with 14 points, one of four Aztecs to score in double figures. Jaedon LeDee, who entered first in the conference at 20.8 points per game, was held to 12 on 2-of-12 shooting.
UNLV blocked 10 shots, the fourth time this season the Rebels have hit that number. Eight came in the first half, a major reason San Diego State shot just 22.9% before the break.
San Diego State has dominated this rivalry in recent years, beating the Rebels in 37 of the previous 48 meetings including 13 of 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
San Diego State, which missed its first 13 shots, didn't score until LeDee's free throw 4:57 into the game and didn't make a field goal until Reese Waters' 3-pointer with 7:52 elapsed. But the Aztecs got back into contention, going on a 13-1 run after UNLV took a 27-10 lead to close the gap to five points.
“It was a lot of their tenacity to start the game,” Saunders said. “You could tell they were ready to play. Their pressure was throwing us off. We couldn’t run our offense, but as the game went on, we started to settle in.”
The Rebels held onto the lead until Lamont Butler made a 3 and then stole the ball and put in a layup to tie it at 58 with 44.6 seconds left.
Thomas then answered with his basket to put UNLV back in front.
“We knew it was going to be a 40-minute fight and we knew we had to play well for 40 minutes,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “But the difference in the game was being able to get that good start, which we really haven’t been able to do against them.”
San Diego State had a chance to take the lead, but UNLV's Kalib Boone blocked Micah Parrish’s 3-point attempt.
Thomas then stepped to the line with 6.5 seconds remaining. Two free throws and the game was virtually over.
He thought back to an 87-86 loss to Utah State two months ago when the Rebels lost on a five-point possession toward the end after leading by four.
“Can't miss free throws,” Thomas said of what was going through his mind. “No five-point plays.”
He made his free throws. And there was no five-point play.
BIG PICTURE
San Diego State: Before losing to the Rebels, the Aztecs were 17-0 against Division I opponents in all games besides Quad 1. It was San Diego State's second loss in four games overall.
UNLV: The Rebels are as hot as any Mountain West team right now. But they'll likely need to win next week's conference tournament in Las Vegas to make the NCAA Tournament because of some head-scratching losses, including to Southern, Loyola Marymount and Air Force. If UNLV had taken care of business in those games, there's little doubt the Rebels would be considered an NCAA Tournament team.
UP NEXT
San Diego State: Will host Boise State on Friday in the regular-season finale. A victory clinches a first-round bye in the Mountain West Tournament.
UNLV: Plays at Nevada on Saturday to close the regular season.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Jaedon LeDee vs. Kalib Boone (Aztecs gains possession) | |||
19:42 | Jaedon LeDee misses two point jump shot | |||
19:40 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
19:15 | Luis Rodriguez misses two point jump shot | |||
19:13 | Luis Rodriguez offensive rebound | |||
19:09 | Luis Rodriguez misses two point layup | |||
19:07 | Jay Pal defensive rebound | |||
18:51 | Lamont Butler misses two point jump shot | |||
18:49 | Runnin' Rebels defensive rebound | |||
18:26 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
18:24 | Darrion Trammell defensive rebound | |||
18:13 | Jaedon LeDee turnover (lost ball) (Kalib Boone steals) | |||
18:01 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover | |||
17:45 | Keylan Boone blocks Micah Parrish's three point jump shot | |||
17:43 | Dedan Thomas Jr. defensive rebound | |||
17:28 | +3 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kalib Boone assists) | 0-3 | |
16:54 | Kalib Boone shooting foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul) | |||
16:54 | Jaedon LeDee misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
16:54 | Jaedon LeDee misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
16:54 | Elijah Saunders offensive rebound | |||
16:49 | Kalib Boone blocks Lamont Butler's two point layup | |||
16:47 | Runnin' Rebels defensive rebound | |||
16:21 | Luis Rodriguez turnover (out of bounds) | |||
16:01 | Lamont Butler misses two point jump shot | |||
15:59 | Kalib Boone defensive rebound | |||
15:42 | +3 | Keylan Boone makes three point jump shot (Dedan Thomas Jr. assists) | 0-6 | |
15:21 | Reese Waters turnover (bad pass) | |||
15:21 | TV timeout | |||
15:19 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Lamont Butler steals) | |||
15:15 | Reese Waters misses three point jump shot | |||
15:13 | Lamont Butler offensive rebound | |||
15:03 | Lamont Butler misses two point layup | |||
15:03 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
15:03 | Luis Rodriguez flagrant 1 (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul) | |||
15:03 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 1-6 | |
15:03 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 2-6 | |
15:02 | Lamont Butler turnover (bad pass) (Keylan Boone steals) | |||
14:33 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
14:31 | Keylan Boone offensive rebound | |||
14:26 | +2 | Keylan Boone makes two point layup | 2-8 | |
14:06 | Elijah Saunders misses three point jump shot | |||
14:04 | Runnin' Rebels defensive rebound | |||
13:52 | Reese Waters personal foul | |||
13:48 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
13:46 | Karl Jones offensive rebound | |||
13:36 | +2 | Karl Jones makes two point dunk | 2-10 | |
13:20 | Jaedon LeDee misses two point jump shot | |||
13:18 | Keylan Boone defensive rebound | |||
13:06 | Miles Byrd personal foul | |||
12:59 | +2 | Karl Jones makes two point jump shot (Keylan Boone assists) | 2-12 | |
12:33 | Kalib Boone blocks Lamont Butler's two point jump shot | |||
12:31 | Jay Pal offensive rebound | |||
12:23 | Jay Pal misses two point layup | |||
12:23 | Reese Waters offensive rebound | |||
12:23 | Karl Jones blocks Jay Pal's two point layup | |||
12:21 | Jay Pal offensive rebound | |||
12:10 | Jay Pal misses two point jump shot | |||
12:08 | Aztecs offensive rebound | |||
12:08 | +3 | Reese Waters makes three point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists) | 5-12 | |
11:44 | +3 | Justin Webster makes three point jump shot (Keylan Boone assists) | 5-15 | |
11:44 | Reese Waters shooting foul (Justin Webster draws the foul) | |||
11:44 | TV timeout | |||
11:44 | +1 | Justin Webster makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-16 | |
11:21 | Micah Parrish misses two point jump shot | |||
11:19 | Jay Pal offensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Jay Pal misses two point layup | |||
11:07 | Keylan Boone defensive rebound | |||
10:57 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
10:55 | Brooklyn Hicks offensive rebound | |||
10:49 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup | 5-18 | |
10:34 | Brooklyn Hicks shooting foul (Darrion Trammell draws the foul) | |||
10:34 | +1 | Darrion Trammell makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 6-18 | |
10:34 | +1 | Darrion Trammell makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 7-18 | |
10:34 | +1 | Darrion Trammell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 8-18 | |
10:25 | Justin Webster turnover (lost ball) (Darrion Trammell steals) | |||
10:20 | Rob Whaley Jr. blocks Darrion Trammell's two point layup | |||
10:18 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
10:17 | Jaedon LeDee misses two point layup | |||
10:16 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
10:16 | +2 | Jaedon LeDee makes two point layup | 10-18 | |
10:02 | Jay Pal blocks Keylan Boone's two point layup | |||
10:00 | Jay Pal defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot | |||
9:57 | Kalib Boone defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Jay Pal personal foul | |||
9:42 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses two point layup | |||
9:40 | Kalib Boone offensive rebound | |||
9:38 | +2 | Kalib Boone makes two point dunk | 10-20 | |
9:38 | Jaedon LeDee shooting foul (Kalib Boone draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | +1 | Kalib Boone makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-21 | |
9:16 | Jaedon LeDee misses three point jump shot | |||
9:14 | Karl Jones defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | Elijah Saunders personal foul | |||
9:00 | +3 | Keylan Boone makes three point jump shot (Luis Rodriguez assists) | 10-24 | |
8:41 | Miles Byrd misses three point jump shot | |||
8:39 | Luis Rodriguez defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | +3 | Keylan Boone makes three point jump shot (Luis Rodriguez assists) | 10-27 | |
7:58 | Luis Rodriguez personal foul | |||
8:17 | TV timeout | |||
7:53 | Keylan Boone blocks Jaedon LeDee's two point layup | |||
7:51 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
7:40 | Karl Jones blocks Jaedon LeDee's two point layup | |||
7:38 | Elijah Saunders offensive rebound | |||
7:35 | Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot | |||
7:35 | Aztecs offensive rebound | |||
7:35 | +3 | Elijah Saunders makes three point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists) | 13-27 | |
6:53 | Jackie Johnson III misses two point layup | |||
6:51 | Runnin' Rebels offensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Runnin' Rebels turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
6:39 | Darrion Trammell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Jackie Johnson III defensive rebound | |||
6:22 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Karl Jones offensive rebound | |||
6:19 | Lamont Butler shooting foul (Karl Jones draws the foul) | |||
6:19 | Karl Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
6:19 | +1 | Karl Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-28 | |
5:59 | Rob Whaley Jr. shooting foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul) | |||
5:59 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-28 | |
5:59 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-28 | |
5:45 | Jackie Johnson III turnover (bad pass) (Darrion Trammell steals) | |||
5:36 | +2 | Lamont Butler makes two point layup (Darrion Trammell assists) | 17-28 | |
5:17 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Darrion Trammell steals) | |||
5:07 | +3 | Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists) | 20-28 | |
5:03 | Runnin' Rebels 30 second timeout | |||
4:58 | Dedan Thomas Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Lamont Butler steals) | |||
4:40 | +3 | Elijah Saunders makes three point jump shot (Micah Parrish assists) | 23-28 | |
4:31 | Lamont Butler personal foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
4:31 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-29 | |
4:31 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-30 | |
4:09 | +2 | Jaedon LeDee makes two point jump shot (Micah Parrish assists) | 25-30 | |
3:53 | Darrion Trammell shooting foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:53 | TV timeout | |||
3:53 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:53 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:53 | Micah Parrish defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Jump ball. (Aztecs gains possession) | |||
3:23 | Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot | |||
3:21 | Keylan Boone defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Justin Webster misses two point jump shot | |||
2:49 | Micah Parrish defensive rebound | |||
2:43 | Elijah Saunders turnover (bad pass) (Justin Webster steals) | |||
2:39 | Elijah Saunders blocks Justin Webster's two point layup | |||
2:37 | Runnin' Rebels offensive rebound | |||
2:32 | Micah Parrish shooting foul (Dedan Thomas Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:32 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:32 | +1 | Dedan Thomas Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-31 | |
2:21 | Keylan Boone blocks Micah Parrish's three point jump shot | |||
2:19 | Karl Jones defensive rebound | |||
1:53 | Keylan Boone misses three point jump shot | |||
1:51 | Jay Pal defensive rebound | |||
1:44 | +3 | Micah Parrish makes three point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists) | 28-31 | |
1:20 | Keylan Boone turnover (lost ball) (Micah Parrish steals) | |||
1:12 | Darrion Trammell turnover (lost ball) (Keylan Boone steals) | |||
0:46 | +2 | Rob Whaley Jr. makes two point layup (Keylan Boone assists) | 28-33 | |
0:29 | Jaedon LeDee misses three point jump shot | |||
0:27 | Karl Jones defensive rebound | |||
0:02 | Dedan Thomas Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Karl Jones offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |