Defense stands tall as UNLV wins at Fresno State

UNLV flipped the script in Wednesday’s 60-57 win at Fresno State.

Instead of the usual blueprint, which relies on Bryce Hamilton to score a preponderance of buckets to carry the team across the finish line, this time UNLV closed it out on defense. With a trio of big men patrolling the lane, the Scarlet and Gray held Fresno State without a field goal over the final four minutes to preserve one of their most impressive victories under Kevin Kruger.

It was a big reversal from the first time UNLV met Fresno State this season. In that Jan. 14 matchup, Bulldogs center Orlando Robinson dominated inside to the tune of 24 points on 18 shots. In the rematch, UNLV rotated its three frontcourt defenders in an effort to make Robinson work for his offense, and that strategy proved effective.

Starting center Royce Hamm and reserve bigs David Muoka and Victor Iwuakor took turns in the post and played splendid defense against Robinson, holding him to seven points on 3-of-14 shooting.

Kruger said the ability to use three different players against Robinson—all with separate strengths—was the key.

“The center position in today’s game is so tough because you’re on an island a lot,” Kruger said. “Especially Fresno with Orlando Robinson and as good as he is. But when you can throw different looks out there—David’s maybe more a little traditional, kind of has angles but he prefers to make you make shots over his length; Royce and Vic are a little more use their quickness, use their lower body strength to move people out—so when you have those three guys who can rotate in and you can guard him three different ways, it’s huge for us.”

Hamilton had his moment too, of course. The score was tied, 54-54, with just more than two minutes left when the senior guard did his thing. Hamilton isolated his defender at the top of the key, rocked him to sleep with the dribble and then pulled up for a 3-pointer to give UNLV a 57-54 lead.

Hamilton struggled for most of the night, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting, but the defense made it stand up.

“We’re going to put the ball in Bryce Hamilton’s [hands], arguably the best scorer on the west coast, take his shot, and we’re going to go back and guard,” Kruger said. “And I thought that group did that to perfection. He didn’t make some of the ones he normally makes, but it didn’t really matter because the guys were confident on the defensive end.”

Fresno State missed its last four shots and went 3:59 without scoring until Junior Ballard made three inconsequential free throws with one second remaining on the game clock. For the game Fresno State shot just 33.9% (19-of-56).

Hamm posted 12 points and five rebounds, Iwuakor had six points and six boards, and Muoka put up two points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

Iwuakor made two of the biggest plays down the stretch; he grabbed an offensive rebound with 14 seconds left and made 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to make it a 58-54 game, and with seven seconds left he block an Isaiah Hill layup attempt to give UNLV possession and seal the win.

Together, the three frontcourt stalwarts logged 59 minutes, and they played smart. In contrast to the first meeting, when Robinson drew 11 personal fouls and powered his way to 11 free-throw attempts, this time he only drew five fouls and shot just two free throws.

All in a night’s work for Hamm, Muoka and Iwuakor.

“Us three guys, we really sacrifice and just do whatever the team needs us to do to win,” Hamm said. “None of us looks to try to do the highlight thing or try to score as much. I think we go in with the right mindset to play the right way, do whatever the coaches ask us to do and do our jobs throughout the game.”

UNLV is now 15-11 on the season and 7-6 in Mountain West play. The Scarlet and Gray entered the night No. 97 in the KenPom rankings and figure to move up after knocking off a Top 100 team for the second time this season.

UNLV will host Colorado State, its other Top 100 victim, at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.

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