Live coverage: UNLV finishes off Gardner-Webb, 64-58

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 | 2 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 | 9 p.m.

It was a really, really ugly first 36 minutes for UNLV, but Bryce Hamilton took over down the stretch to guide the scarlet and gray to a season-opening 64-58 win over Gardner-Webb.

With the game tied, 51-51, with four minutes remaining, Hamilton scored nine straight points to give UNLV some breathing room. And when UNLV had a 4-point lead with less than a minute on the clock, it was Hamilton who sliced through the Bulldogs defense for a layup to clinch the victory.

Despite a slow start, Hamilton finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-25 shooting. Royce Hamm dominated inside with 18 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks.

UNLV held Gardner-Webb to 38.3% from the field.

After picking up his first win as a head coach, Kevin Kruger will have a couple days to get the team ready for Saturday's home contest against Cal.

UNLV leads Gardner-Webb, 49-45

After shooting 20% from the field in the first half, UNLV has upped its accuracy to 38.1% since the break—but the scarlet and gray have been unable to shake Gardner-Webb. With 7:55 remaining, UNLV has a 49-45 lead.

It's the Royce Hamm show for UNLV. The senior center has come through in a big way, racking up 18 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, but he has gotten no help on the offensive end. Bryce Hamilton is 4-of-17 from the field, Josh Baker is 0-of-5 and Mike Nuga is 0-of-3.

It's looking more and more likely that UNLV is not going to run into a hot streak that helps them pull away, so they're probably going to have to finish this game with defense. 

UNLV opens 37-29 lead over Gardner-Webb

UNLV has opened the second half with a 10-5 spurt, and with 15:40 remaining they have extended their lead to 37-29.

The scarlet and gray have looked slightly better on offense in the opening minutes, but most of their production has come from the free-throw line, as they're 6-of-6 this half.

Royce Hamm continues to be a revelation at center. The Texas transfer scored on a putback to get things started after the break, and he just thwarted a Gardner-Webb drive to the basket by staying vertical and challenging a layup. Hamm has already entered double-double territory with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

UNLV leads Gardner-Webb at halftime

After a first half that was more of a bludgeoning than a basketball game, UNLV has taken a 27-24 lead into the locker room.

It has been a grind on the offensive end. UNLV made just 7-of-34 from the field over the first 20 minutes, including an absolutely brutal 1-of-17 showing from 3-point range, but the good news is the scarlet and gray have not let it affect their performance on the defensive end. Kevin Kruger's squad has completely shut down Gardner-Webb, holding the Bulldogs to 34.6% from the field and 0-of-9 from 3-point range.

Royce Hamm was the biggest impact player for UNLV in the first half, posting eight points and nine rebounds. Bryce Hamilton is leading the way with nine points, but it took him 11 shots to get there (3-of-11).

Freshman Keshon Gilbert has had an impressive college debut, recording two points and a steal in eight minutes. He has turned over the ball three times, but his defense has been a source of energy.

If UNLV can make a few shots in the second half they should be able to pull away and give Kruger his first victory in comfortable fashion. If they stay cold, however, it will be up to the defense to keep the clamps on until the final buzzer. 

UNLV struggling on offense vs. Gardner-Webb

Offense has been a struggle for UNLV, and with 7:50 left in the first half visiting Gardner-Webb has pulled ahead, 17-15.

UNLV has shot just 5-of-20 from the field so far and 1-of-8 from 3-point range. Kevin Kruger's squad has looked very much like a team that is trying to incorporate a lot of new players on the fly, as they have also committed five turnovers.

Bryce Hamilton has struggled from the field, making 2-of-9. Royce Hamm has been a bright spot, racking up eight points and seven rebounds already. Hamm also has UNLV's lone 3-pointer.

UNLV leading with defense early in opener

This UNLV team is trying to build a defense-first identity, and in the early going against Gardner-Webb it appears to have taken hold. With 15:40 left in the first half, UNLV has a 7-4 lead.

The defense has swarmed. The scarlet and gray have held Gardner-Webb to 1-of-5 shooting, and they've forced five turnovers already. They've also gotten a handful of deflections that, while not turning directly into turnovers, have made life difficult on the opposing ballhandlers.

McCabe, Iwuakor out for UNLV basketball opener

UNLV will not be dealing with a full deck for tonight's opener against Gardner-Webb, as point guard Jordan McCabe and forward Victor Iwuakor are not dressed.

Iwuakor's absence was expected, as he missed Tuesday's practice with an arm injury, but McCabe being out is more of a surprise. The senior practiced yesterday, so his status may not be injury related.

Senior center James Hampshire is also out.

Kevin Kruger will send out a starting lineup without a true point guard, as Mike Nuga, Josh Baker and Bryce Hamilton will start in the backcourt. Donovan Williams and Royce Hamm are the forwards.

UNLV ready for first game under Kevin Kruger

UNLV basketball tips off the 2021-22 season today with a home game against Gardner-Webb, and it’s (yet another) new beginning for the program.

A look at what to watch as Kevin Kruger’s scarlet and gray take the court for the first time:

Kruger’s debut

After an accomplished collegiate playing career, a six-year pro career and seven years as an assistant coach, Kevin Kruger is raring to lead UNLV onto the court tonight in his first game as a head coach.

“A lot of excitement right now,” Kruger said after Tuesday’s practice.

Along with that excitement are sure to come some nerves. Kruger had a couple closed scrimmages to work out some of the kinks, but he expects some anxiety early on as he gains his bearings on the sideline.

“I’d be lying if I wasn’t probably a little nervous,” Kruger said. “The first time you ever do something with that responsibility, it’s going to be unique.”

Kruger said he’s never been more nervous than he was when watching his father, Lon Kruger, coach in big games.

“As long as it doesn’t reach that level, we’ll be OK,” Kruger said. “I’m just really looking forward to something I’ve wanted to do since I can remember. Hopefully we put them in the right spots and we give them the ball in the right situations and we get a win.”

Defense first

We still don’t know what style of play UNLV is going to employ under Kruger in terms of X’s and O’s, but it’s a pretty safe bet that defense will be the foundation.

Kruger imported a bunch of defensive-minded players over the offseason and spent the last month of practice preaching the gospel of stops. He even went so far as to torture his players with a continuous loop of a Will Smith song in order to prompt his guys to “Switch” properly.

That attitude has even permeated Bryce Hamilton, who has been a pretty offensive-minded player his first three years at UNLV.

After practice at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Hamilton was asked what he thinks will be the strength of this UNLV team. Kruger surely approved of his answer.

“Defense,” Hamilton said. “That’s something that we really take pride in and I think we’re going to be a real good defensive team.”

Hamilton sounds like a true convert, saying he put in the work over the offseason to become a better individual defender.

“Just mentality, really,” Hamilton said of his focus on the defensive end. “More of me taking that pride in playing defense. That’s something I’ve really been focusing on this summer and that’s something I’m ready to do.”

It sounds like the scarlet and gray have bought into the defense-first message. A strong showing at that end against Gardner-Webb would drive home the message even more.

Who’s the point guard?

One of the most intriguing position battles during practice has been at point guard. Returning senior Marvin Coleman opened last year as the starter but missed most of the season due to injury. Kruger brought in senior transfer Jordan McCabe to shore up the position, and new recruit Keshon Gilbert was named Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year, so there are options.

We won’t know who has emerged as UNLV’s primary playmaker until the lineup is announced on Wednesday.

And no matter who gets the nod in the starting lineup, there’s a chance it might not matter so much. Kruger could always opt to play with multiple wings and big men, eschewing a “true” point guard, something that could be intriguing from a defensive standpoint.

Nuga, one of the team’s primary wings, said he and his fellow swingmen teammates are capable of running the offense if there’s no point guard on the floor.

“We work on that in practice,” Nuga said. “Different people bringing up the ball and getting used to running the offense. We’re prepared for that. If we go without a true point guard, we’re prepared to move around with each other and play off each other.”

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