Blog: Texas State shuts down UNLV, 64-57

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 | 5 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 | 9:04 p.m.

UNLV was shut down in the second half by the Texas State defense, and the visitors claimed a 64-57 win at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday.

The Rebels scored just 29 points after the break, as Texas State overcame an early 10-point deficit. UNLV is now 2-4 on the season with a home game against SMU set for Saturday.

Amauri Hardy followed up his 25-point performance on Monday by tallying 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting, while Donnie Tillman made just 3-of-12 shots for 13 points. As a team, UNLV shot 34.7 percent.

The Rebels played without starting shooting guard Jonah Antonio, who was held out due to a hand injury. UNLV actually shot a respectable 7-of-19 from deep, but Texas State forced 16 turnovers.

Texas State opens up 52-44 lead over UNLV

UNLV is suffering through a brutal half on the offensive end, and with 5:22 to play Texas State has a 52-44 lead.

The Rebels have shot just 38.5 percent since halftime against the stingy Texas State defense while committing seven turnovers. UNLV hasn't made things easy, either, with zero fast-break points.

Texas State continues to go to Nijal Pearson, who has a game-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. The Rebels have tried Amauri Hardy, Elijah Mitrou-Long and Marvin Coleman on him, but no one has been able to contain Pearson.

Texas State leads UNLV in second half, 39-37

With 11:23 to play, Texas State holds a 39-37 lead over UNLV.

Texas State hasn't made a field goal in more than five minutes, but the Bobcats have stifled UNLV on the other end of the floor. The Rebels are shooting just 35.3 percent for the game, and leading scorers Donnie Tillman and Amauri Hardy have been held to 6-of-19 from the field combined.

Another factor to watch down the stretch will be foul trouble, as Tillman and Hardy both have three fouls.

UNLV, Texas State tied at half

UNLV built a lead as big as 10 points, but at the half the Rebels find themselves tied with Texas State, 28-28.

After running good offense for the first 15 minutes and building a 26-16 advantage, the Rebels did not make a field goal in the final 5:18 as Texas State closed the gap. UNLV finished the half shooting 34.6 percent, and the team's leading scorer on the season, Amauri Hardy, tallied just three points in 17 first-half minutes.

Donnie Tillman was the most effective Rebel with nine early points, but he picked up his third foul and only logged 11 minutes. Keeping him from getting a fourth foul will be a key for UNLV in the second half.

Texas State has been led by guard Nijal Pearson, who scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. The Bobcats finished the half on a 14-4 run.

Rebels trying out new lineup vs. Texas State

T.J. Otzelberger made a change to his starting lineup for the first time this season, inserting Nick Blair at power forward, and so far the returns have been mixed. With 11:41 left in the first half, UNLV and Texas State are tied, 9-9.

The move worked for the Rebels' other starting forward, as Donnie Tillman scored UNLV's first seven points. But the rest of the team is 1-of-3 from the floor with three combined turnovers.

Jonah Antonio did not start and has not played yet tonight. There is no word yet on whether he is suffering from injury or if it's a coach's decision.

Three keys for UNLV basketball vs. Texas State

UNLV can move back to .500 in nonconference play with a win over Texas State tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, but the Bobcats of the Sun Belt aren't a traditional cupcake opponent.

What to watch for as the Runnin' Rebels try to pick up their third victory:

Halfcourt game

UNLV wants to run under coach T.J. Otzelberger, but the schedule has not cooperated so far this season, as the Rebels have been matched up with opponents who prefer to play at a deliberate pace. That will continue tonight, as Texas State ranks No. 289 in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.com.

Halfcourt offense has been a weakness for UNLV. The Rebels' turnover rate is 20.4 percent in the half court, which is No. 311 in the nation, according to Synergy Sports data, and their free-throw rate of 9.9 percent puts them at No. 274. It's not a recipe for an efficient scoring attack.

If they're going to win tonight, the Rebels are probably going to have to grind through a slow-paced game and execute more efficiently than they have in their three losses.

Ride Hardy

Amauri Hardy appears to be making the leap to stardom under Otzelberger. The junior guard is scoring 19.0 points per game, and he's doing it very efficiently. Not only is Hardy connecting on 41.9 percent of his 3-pointers, he's also knocking down 85.7 percent of his free throws and shooting 48.1 percent from the field. And he's doing it with a team-high usage rate of 24.1 percent, according to Synergy Sports data.

Hardy was the difference maker in UNLV's win over Abilene Christian on Monday, and if tonight's contest is close, look for the Rebels to put the ball in his hands and let him decide the outcome.

Stretch 5

Did the Rebels stumble on a solution to their bench woes in Monday's win over Abilene Christian? For the first time this season, Otzelberger inserted senior Vitaliy Shibel as the backup center, and the big lefty acquitted himself nicely, scoring four points on 2-of-2 shooting in 15 minutes. Best of all, the team's plus/minus was only minus-1 during his time on the court.

After the game, starting forward Donnie Tillman spoke highly of Shibel's contributions.

"He brings communication, energy," Tillman said. "He's like a stretch 5. He can hit a lot of those pop-3's for us at the 5 spot. Maybe down the stretch he can be like a switch guy, get him a mismatch down in the post. He did well tonight."

UNLV needs someone to back up starting center Mbacke Diong, and junior Cheickna Dembele posted a team-worst plus/minus of -20.0 per 40 minutes through the first four games. Expect Shibel to get another look as the first big off the bench against Texas State.

TV: UNLVRebels.com, 7 p.m.

Betting line: UNLV minus-4.5

UNLV (2-3, Kenpom No. 160)

Coach: T.J. Otzelberger

Leading scorer: Amauri Hardy (19.0 points per game, 48.1 FG%)

Leading rebounder: Mbacke Diong (10.6 rebounds per game)

Leading assists: Elijah Mitrou-Long (3.2 assists per game)

Texas State (3-2, Kenpom No. 143)

Coach: Danny Kaspar

Leading scorer: Nijal Pearson (15.0 points per game, 41.9 FG%)

Leading rebounder: Isiah Small (8.6 rebounds per game)

Leading assists: Mason Harrell (3.4 assists per game)

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.