UNLV’s head coach T.J. Otzelberger calls out to players during a game against UNR at the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
Published Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 | 2 a.m.
Updated Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 | 5:24 p.m.
UNLV got 66 points from its four main guards, and the Rebels pulled out a gutty, 78-73 win at New Mexico.
Elijah Mitrou-Long and Bryce Hamilton led the way with 17 apiece, while Marvin Coleman and Amauri Hardy each had 16. Hardy came up clutch by knocking down two free throws to give UNLV a lead with 12 seconds to play, and Zane Martin missed a 3 on UNM's ensuing possession. Bryce Hamilton then made a pair of free throws to clinch the win.
UNLV improves to 13-14 on the season and 8-6 in conference play.
Rebels protecting late lead at New Mexico
UNLV is getting an unbelievable shooting day from its backcourt, and at the final media timeout the Rebels lead New Mexico, 70-67.
Jay Green will shoot a pair of free throws after the timeout, but it has been Marvin Coleman, Elijah Mitrou-Long and Bryce Hamilton carrying the load today. Mitrou-Long leads UNLV with 17 points, while Coleman and Hamilton have scored 16 and 15, respectively; the trio is shooting a blistering 20-of-31 from the floor and 7-of-10 from 3-point range.
While their offensive exploits have put UNLV in position to win this game, the question is whether the Rebels can get enough defensive stops to secure the victory. T.J. Otzelberger is rolling with his four-guard lineups, and after UNM started the half hot, the Lobos are now shooting just 40.0 percent since halftime.
UNLV, New Mexico tied in second half
If you're a basketball fan who can't wait until tomorrow's NBA All-Star game to watch two teams run up and down the court scoring on every possession, then this UNLV-New Mexico game should tide you over. Neither team seems capable of getting a stop, and with 11:25 to play we are tied at the Pit, 55-55.
UNLV is shooting 54.8 percent, while New Mexico is knocking down shots at a 48.6-percent clip.
It's going to be even more difficult for UNLV to get stops down the stretch, as the Rebels have already been called for nine fouls this half. That means New Mexico is in the double bonus and will shoot two free throws on every foul the rest of the game.
New Mexico leads UNLV at halftime, 41-40
Bryce Hamilton and Marvin Coleman combined for 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the first half, and that's the biggest reason why UNLV is in the game. At halftime, New Mexico has a 41-40 lead.
Led by the hot shooting of Hamilton and Coleman, the Rebels shot 56.7 percent as a team and 5-of-10 from 3-point range. They also racked up 10 fast-break points, mostly via Hamilton's open-court exploits.
New Mexico has scored just as easily, however, led by Keith McGee (11 points), Makuach Maluach (10 points) and Corey Manigault (10 points).
T.J. Otzelberger was forced to play exceptionally small lineups for most of the half due to foul trouble for starting forward Nick Blair. After blazing through the first 20 minutes offensively, let's see if he goes back to Blair in the second half or if he rides with his offensive-minded four-guard lineup.
UNLV leads at New Mexico, 40-39
UNLV has survived and even thrived at times with its small lineups so far today, and with 1:46 left in the half the Rebels have a 40-39 lead over New Mexico.
Bryce Hamilton has powered the offense with a bunch of transition baskets, and Marvin Coleman has been money from beyond the arc. Hamilton has 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Coleman has 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting (3-of-3 from 3-point range). UNLV is shooting 63.0 percent as a team.
At the other end of the floor, New Mexico has had no problem dicing up UNLV's zone defense. Makuach Maluach has 10 points, mostly on baseline cuts and alley-oops, and reserve guard Keith McGee has 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
It looks like this one is going to be a shootout. Can the Rebels keep scoring at a breakneck pace for the next 42 minutes?
Rebels going small against New Mexico, lead 19-18
The last thing UNLV could afford today was foul trouble for one of its few big men, but that's exactly the situation in which the Rebels find themselves. Nick Blair got tagged with two quick personals and had to sub out after playing just one minute, and UNLV has been piecing together its lineups since. With 11:55 left in the first half, UNLV has a 19-18 lead.
Elijah Mitrou-Long was the first player off the bench, as he subbed in for Blair to give the Rebels a four-guard look. T.J. Otzelberger has stayed small since then, casting either Bryce Hamilton or Jonah Antonio in the role of power forward. Good 3-point shooting has been the Rebels' best friend so far, as they've knocked down 3-of-4 from long range.
New Mexico has made 5-of-9 from the field against UNLV's zone defense, but so far the Lobos haven't been able to make UNLV pay for going extremely small.
Rebels set to take on New Mexico
UNLV is sticking with its regular starting lineup at New Mexico today, with Marvin Coleman, Amauri Hardy and Bryce Hamilton in the backcourt and Nick Blair and Mbacke Diong up front. Tillman had settled into a sixth-man role before suffering a season-ending knee injury against UNR, so the bench rotation is still a bit of a mystery.
Guard Jonah Antonio figures to see some playing time at multiple positions. After Tillman went out against UNR, it was the 6-foot-4 Antonio who shifted to power forward for 29 minutes. Whether Otzelberger thinks that matchup can work against New Mexico remains to be seen.
The starting lineup of Coleman, Hardy, Hamilton, Blair and Diong has played 65 minutes together this season; they have outscored the opposition, 108-107, during that time.
Previewing UNLV at New Mexico with reader questions
The Rebels are set to take on New Mexico today in a game that should have big implications for UNLV's Mountain West tournament seeding, but with some time before tip-off (3 p.m., CBS Sports Network) let's take a spin through some reader questions:
Crystal ball: Who’s staying/going for the 2020-21 season with all the signees and lack of schollies to offer?
@MikeGrimala
UNLV has seven incoming recruits set for next year, with only three seniors graduating after this season (Nick Blair, Elijah Mitrou-Long, Vitaliy Shibel). The math obviously requires a bit of squinting to make it work, but in the end I don't think it will be much of an issue. One of the incoming freshmen will probably go to prep school for a year; if that comes to pass, UNLV will only need to clear three scholarships to make it all fit. It's a bit uncouth to call out players by name as not worthy of a scholarship, but anyone can look at the minutes distribution this season and clearly see a couple players who might not be asked back next year. That would leave UNLV one over the limit, but that's before current Rebels start leaving for the pros and/or entering the transfer portal, which is all but guaranteed.
The Rebels will get to the scholarship limit, and may even find themselves with an extra open spot or two to pursue a juco/grad transfer type.
Which of the incoming recruits for men's basketball do you see getting big minutes next season and do you think Tillman returns?
@MikeGrimala
Tillman went through the NBA Draft process last year, so making the jump is clearly on his mind. And anytime a player does that and decides to come back for a year, I assume exactly that — that it's only for a year. And now that Tillman is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, I can't see why he'd want to risk further injury without being paid for his efforts. So I expect him to explore his professional opportunities.
As for the recruits, Nick Blake is the headliner of the class. He's a top-100 prospect, and after prepping for a year at IMG Academy he should be more physically developed than your typical college freshman. The coaching staff raves about his potential, and this roster needs more offense. The circumstances are lining up for Blake to be the most impactful freshman. And although he's not highly ranked (or ranked at all, in some instances), I think there's a chance Devin Tillis gets a look next year. He's not flashy, but at 6-foot-6 he has the passing skill and shooting ability to contribute.
How is Moses Wood doing? Our starting stretch 4 next year? Is he putting on some weight? Best shooter on team next to Jenkins?
@MikeGrimala
On paper, Moses Wood looks like a natural fit to be a floor-spacing forward in T.J. Otzelberger's offense, as he's 6-foot-8 with a beautiful outside shot (37.3 percent from 3-point range as a freshman at Tulane last year). The media doesn't have access to watch practices, so it's hard to judge Wood's development throughout the season, but on occasion we are allowed to observe the players' post-practice workouts. Now, every player at the college level looks good shooting on an empty court, but Wood is the type of shooter who goes through entire workouts without missing. If he can translate that accuracy to live-game action he'll get significant minutes next year.
What is the likelihood the Raiders let UNLV play either or both of the disputed games next year in Allegiant Stadium?
@MikeGrimala
"Let?" The Raiders are not going to "let" UNLV do anything, ever, for the next 30 years. The NFL isn't in the business of making friends — it's a cut-throat, bottom-line endeavor, and the Raiders probably aren't too thrilled about having to share a stadium with UNLV in the first place. It wouldn't be any problem for the Raiders to clear those dates and give UNLV access to the fields, but nothing is going to be that simple for UNLV over the next three decades. Not only will the Raiders be sticklers for the fine print in the joint-use agreement, but I expect them to actively and aggressively do their best to make life miserable for their unwanted co-tenants. As is their right, as defined by the joint-use agreement. My advice to UNLV when it comes to anything stadium-related between now and the year 2050: Get it in writing.
I'm glad we recalled Glass and Roy from the Wolves, but why did we reassign them in the first place?
@MikeGrimala
My vast expertise does not extend to the Golden Knights, but lucky for you the Sun happens to employ the best hockey reporter in town. I texted our Justin Emerson your question, and even though he's married and it was 8 p.m. on Valentine's Day, he took the time to answer:
"He didn't have to go through waivers so they were able to send him down as a conditioning assignment, but also because they had a lot of centers on their roster already."
We thank you for your time, Justin.
Will you be trying some New Mexican food while in Albuquerque?
@MikeGrimala
Uhhh...I'm not familiar with New Mexican cuisine and I don't do things with which I am not familiar.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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