Live coverage: UNLV closes nonconference with easy win over San Diego

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021 | 8:49 p.m.

Kevin Kruger has to be happy about the 40 minutes he got from his team tonight, as UNLV closed out the nonconference portion of its schedule with a comfortable 80-57 win over visiting San Diego.

Wednesday's contest was easily the best the scarlet and gray have played all season, as Donovan Williams and Bryce Hamilton scored 20 points and UNLV held San Diego to 35.5% from the field on the night. Williams netted his 20 on 7-of-12 shooting, while Hamilton made 7-of-16 shots for his 20 points.

Royce Hamm turned in his usual solid performance with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Victor Iwuakor played 10 minutes and appeared to make it through without reaggravating his shoulder injury, so that's additional good news beyond the scoreboard.

UNLV is now 8-5 on the season and has won four straight games. They'll have a week off for the holidays and will return to action on Jan. 1 for the start of Mountain West play with a home game against rival San Diego State.

UNLV leads San Diego by 22 in second half

This has been UNLV's most complete performance of the season so far, and they're well on their way to a win, as the scarlet and gray have a 66-44 lead over San Diego with 7:13 to play.

Donovan Williams continue to produce in the scoring column, as he just finished off a nice pass from Bryce Hamilton. Williams cut down the middle of the lane as the shot clock ran down, Hamilton spotted him, and Williams connected on the floater. Williams now has a team-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

San Diego finally made its first 3-pointer of the game, but the Toreros are just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc.

Hamilton has 16 points and three steals.

Donovan Williams up to 18 points as UNLV buries San Diego

Donovan Williams has picked up where he left off in the first half, scoring three quick buckets to help UNLV maintain a 52-34 lead with 15:29 to play.

Williams has scored on UNLV's last two possessions. On the last play he backed down a San Diego defender, turned and made an easy bank shot to give him 18 points on the night.

There's a decent chance that 52 points might be enough for UNLV to win this game. The Toreros play at an extremely slow pace, and they are shooting just 34.2% on the night, so there's no guarantee they get above that benchmark over the next 15 minutes.

Royce Hamm has 10 points and six rebounds, while Jordan McCabe has six assists.

UNLV uses late run to build 42-24 halftime lead over San Diego

UNLV closed the first half on a 16-4 run and the scarlet and gray will head into the locker room with a comfortable 42-24 lead over San Diego.

Marvin Coleman was a spark during the late spurt; he came up with a steal, hit a 3-pointer and made a nice hockey assist that led to a Bryce Hamilton layup in the closing seconds. Donovan Williams is leading the team with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting.

Hamilton had a quiet half on the offensive end, netting just seven points on five shots, but he played a nice defensive half by coming up with three steals. Keshon Gilbert has also turned in his usual disruptive performance, notching two steals and forcing another turnover.

Victor Iwuakor logged six minutes in the half and produced a steal and a rebound.

As a whole UNLV played a fine defensive half, holding San Diego to 32.1% shooting.

UNLV up early on San Diego

Donovan Williams has responded well to being inserted into the starting lineup. The junior wing has a quick five points and UNLV is ahead of San Diego, 14-10 with 11:42 remaining in the first half.

Williams' first bucket came on a drive into the paint, and he just converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to give UNLV its current advantage.

Victor Iwuakor checked in after the first media timeout and has looked spry; he grabbed an offensive rebound on UNLV's last possession.

Victor Iwuakor suited up for UNLV vs. San Diego

UNLV has made some changes to its lineup, as Donovan Williams is in the starting five and Justin Webster is out. Webster missed practice yesterday due to a non-COVID illness, so the change may be related to that.

The other lineup news is that Victor Iwuakor went through pregame warmups tonight and appears to be in uniform for this game. If he plays, it will be his first live action since Dec. 8 against Seattle.

This lineup with Williams on the floor was very effective in UNLV's most recent game, as the scarlet and gray outscored Omaha, 18-7, in the five minutes they were on the floor together.

UNLV basketball closing out nonconference schedule vs. San Diego

UNLV will finish the nonconference portion of its schedule on Wednesday, when the scarlet and gray host San Diego at the Thomas & Mack Center. A win would give UNLV four straight victories and allow them to head home for the holidays on a strong note.

Three keys for UNLV:

San Diego slow

Wednesday’s game is not going to turn into a track meet—not if San Diego has anything to say about it. The Toreros rank 290^th in the nation in adjusted tempo according to KenPom.com, making them the slowest-paced team UNLV has played all season.

UNLV is no racehorse in its own right—the scarlet and gray rank 220^th in adjusted tempo—but coming off a six-day break between games it could take them a while to get acclimated to San Diego’s wonky style.

Head coach Kevin Kruger said UNLV can’t slack on defense just because San Diego prefers to play things slow.

“They don’t just get it past halfcourt and hold it and wait,” Kruger said. “They still cut hard and run pretty detailed sets, and I think that will get our guys’ attention. They’ve got to be locked in for the entire shot clock and that’s been the focus the last couple days.

“When you think your job is almost done, that’s when they can get you if you’re not careful.”

Iwaukor could suit up

UNLV has been hoping to get Victor Iwuakor back on the court all season, but his injured shoulder has prevented him from playing any more than a single five-minute stint against Seattle on Dec. 8.

Kruger even said the uncertainty around the injury has the team considering a medical redshirt for Iwuakor.

But the junior forward practiced on Tuesday, and even if he doesn’t suit up against San Diego on Wednesday, there’s another six-day break before UNLV’s next game (the Jan. 1 Mountain West opener vs. San Diego State).

After practice, Kruger seemed to indicate that Iwuakor could give it another shot soon.

“I wouldn’t say he’s at his best, but he is definitely getting closer,” Kruger said. “He’s definitely a presence even when he’s not 100%. We’ll see tomorrow how things can go.”

Webster sick

Junior shooting guard Justin Webster missed Tuesday’s practice due to an illness, but Kruger was quick to say it was not a COVID-19 issue.

“Just not feeling well today, so we sent him home. He’s done all the COVID stuff and he has not been positive for COVID.”

Webster has been in the starting lineup the past four games; in the most recent contest, UNLV’s starters outscored Omaha, 25-12, in less than 10 minutes of court time.

What: UNLV (7-5) vs. San Diego (7-5)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

TV: Yurview

UNLV leaders

Bryce Hamilton, 18.5 points per game

Royce Hamm, 9.9 rebounds per game

Jordan McCabe, 4.8 assists per game

San Diego leaders

Marcellus Earlington, 13.6 points per game

Terrell Brown, 7.7 rebounds per game

Bryce Monroe, 2.4 assists per game

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