Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Live blog: UNR cruises to 89-73 win over UNLV

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Steve Marcus

UNLV players leave the court after losing a game to rival UNR at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. From left, Nick Blair (20), Bryce Hamilton (13), Tervell Beck (14) and Trey Woodbury (22).

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 | 10:02 p.m.

UNR's star trio of Caleb Martin, Cody Martin and Jordan Caroline combined for 67 points, and the Wolf Pack dispatched UNLV with ease for the second time this season, 89-73.

Caleb Martin led the way with 24 points, while Cody tallied 23. Caroline posted 20 points and 12 rebounds. The three combined to shoot 24-of-44 from the field, including 12-of-21 from 3-point range. 

That was simply too much offense for UNLV to keep up with. UNLV cut the deficit to 11 points on a couple of occasions in the second half, but never got closer. 

Amauri Hardy led the Rebels with 19 points, while Kris Clyburn scored 18.

UNLV is now 15-13 on the season and 9-7 in Mountain West play. The Rebels will now head back to Las Vegas to host Boise State on Saturday. 

UNLV trims deficit to 11 points at UNR

The Rebels have used a 13-5 run to trim UNR's lead to 68-57 with 7:48 to play.

Amauri Hardy accounted for eight points during the spurt, including a pair of 3-pointers and a driving layup. Kris Clyburn also had an and-1 layup to help UNLV close the gap.

Clyburn is leading UNLV with 16 points on the night, while Hardy is up to 13 points.

There's enough time left for UNLV to make this game interesting — if the Rebels can continue to get stops on the defensive end.

UNLV down by 17 at UNR

Noah Robotham just beat the UNR defense down the court for a breakaway layup, but it barely made a dent in the deficit. With 11:55 remaining, UNR leads the Rebels, 63-46.

Marvin Menzies quickly called timeout after the basket in an attempt to cultivate some momentum. UNR has pushed the lead above 20 points on two occasions, and Menzies is trying to keep the Rebels within striking distance.

Kris Clyburn is leading UNLV with 13 points, while Robotham has scored eight. UNR's big three of Caleb Martin, Cody Martin and Jordan Caroline have combined for 47 points so far.

UNR leads UNLV at half, 46-28

Caleb Martin closed the first half by nailing a fadeaway 3-pointer from the left wing and pointing to the UNR student section as he backpedaled back on defense. That bucket gave the Wolf Pack a 46-28 lead at the half, and UNLV is lucky the deficit isn't worse.

The Rebels shot 11-of-32 from the field (34.4 percent) and committed 11 mostly unforced turnovers, allowing UNR to build a double-digit lead in the opening minutes. UNR's big three of Caleb Martin, Cody Martin and Jordan Caroline each have 13 points at the break. Joel Ntambwe leads UNLV with nine points.

UNLV's cold shooting continues, as the Rebels made just 3-of-12 from 3-point range in the first half. UNR is 7-of-15 from long range.

UNLV trails UNR by 15 in first half

Jordan Caroline just scored five straight points to extend UNR's lead to 38-23 with 3:25 left in the first half.

Caroline now has a game-high 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Three of his baskets have come on easy put-backs, as UNLV has been unable to keep him off the offensive glass.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Noah Robotham and Kris Clyburn settled the UNLV offense and pulled the Rebels within 30-21, but Caroline and Cody Martin (12 points) have reestablished UNR's double-digit lead.

UNR takes early lead over UNLV

Defensive rebounding has been an issue for UNLV in the opening minutes. The Rebels only allowed UNR to grab four offensive rebounds in the first meeting between these teams, but Jordan Caroline already has two putbacks and UNR leads, 13-7 with 16:10 left in the first half.

Caroline's first offensive board came off a Cody Martin missed 3, and he put it back in plus a foul (he made the free throw). A minute later, Caroline ripped down a missed 3 from Trey Porter and banked it in off the glass.

Marvin Menzies called timeout after Caroline's second bucket, no doubt to get his Rebels on the same page when it comes to rebounding.

Three keys for UNLV basketball at UNR

Still stinging from a last-second loss to San Diego State on Saturday, UNLV will try to notch its biggest win of the season when the Rebels travel to take on UNR today (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

Three keys to watch:

Make 3’s early

The Rebels are only as good as their outside shooting, and it will take their best effort to have any shot at an upset at UNR. While Noah Robotham went 5-of-6 from 3-point range against SDSU, the rest of the team made just 2-of-16. If UNLV slumps like that against UNR — even for just the first half — the Wolf Pack will build an insurmountable lead and cruise to a blowout victory.

Defensive rebound

UNR scores enough as it is — the Pack’s halfcourt efficiency ranks 12th in the nation according to Synergy Sports data — so giving them second-chance opportunities means death. UNLV did a good job in the first meeting, limiting UNR to four offensive rebounds, and the Pack still won by 17. UNLV has to grab just about every defensive rebound in order to have a chance.

Move on

The Wolf Pack is going to make shots. The key for UNLV will be showing mental toughness when the Martin twins and Jordan Caroline convert tough baskets. If the Rebels slump their shoulders after UNR makes back-to-back 3’s, a modest 6-0 run could easily spiral into a 15-0 run and end the game.

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

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