Bryce Hamilton leads UNLV to sweep of UNR

The state of Nevada is Scarlet and Gray.

The UNLV basketball team left no doubt about that on Tuesday, as they traveled to Reno and scored a gritty comeback win over UNR, 62-54. With the victory, UNLV has swept the season series from its in-state rival in Kevin Kruger’s first year as head coach.

The difference in Tuesday’s contest was simple: UNLV had Bryce Hamilton and UNR didn’t.

The senior guard put his team on his back, as he has many times this season, and carried them with 19 second-half points. It was one highlight shot after another as Hamilton rained isolation 3-pointers, dropped in floaters and drove around defenders for acrobatic layups.

About the only mistake Hamilton made on the night was slipping up when referring to UNR by its preferred name in his post-game interview. Other than that, he was all smiles.

“Being able to sweep (UNR) definitely feels great,” Hamilton said. “We knew it was going to be a tough fight. First half really didn’t go our way, but in the second half we stepped it up.”

The less said about UNLV’s performance in the first half, the better. The Scarlet and Gray could barely get out of their own way, shooting 30% from the field and fumbling not one, not two, but three uncontested rebounds out of bounds to give possession back to UNR. A five-minute scoreless drought late in the half allowed the Wolf Pack to pull ahead at the break, 26-23.

It could have very easily ended up being one of those nights where nothing goes right. Instead, Hamilton turned the game in UNLV’s favor by coming out smoking hot to start the second half.

Hamilton hit a pair of free throws with 16 minutes left to pull UNLV within 33-29, and that sparked a quick 8-0 run for the visitors. A few minutes later, Hamilton drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key, then converted a short jumper in the lane on consecutive possessions to put UNLV ahead, 40-34.

With UNLV up by four points with eight minutes left, Hamilton pulled off the play of the game. Working in isolation on the left wing against UNR guard Daniel Foster, Hamilton drove right and stopped on a dime with a behind-the-back dribble; the move sent Foster sprawling to the floor. Hamilton stepped back behind the arc and calmly swished a 3 that drew an awed hush from the partisan crowd.

It was a “get on my back, boys” kind of moment for Hamilton, who at this point looks like the frontrunner for Mountain West Player of the Year.

Hamilton said his role on the team calls for him to make those kinds of plays, especially when he’s hot.

“It can feel like that sometimes,” Hamilton said. “I know one time I kind of told everybody to just go somewhere else and I’ll make the play…The coaches and my teammates have that confidence in me to be able to make plays and I’m just grateful to be in that position.”

Hamilton finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Kruger was more than happy to ride the hot hand down the stretch, and the results speak for themselves.

“Every team has got a thing they need to happen for them to win,” Kruger said, “and I think Bryce making plays and making shots and being aggressive offensively is one of those things we need.”

UNLV has now won four straight games to improve to 17-11 on the season and 9-6 in the Mountain West. They currently have a 2.5-game lead over Fresno State for fifth place in the conference standings; the top five teams receive a bye in the first round of the MWC tournament.

As Kruger alluded, UNLV has its formula down: Play strong defense, control rebounds and let Hamilton do his thing on the offensive end. And it’s working.

“I’m pretty sure there’s not a lot of teams that want to see us in the conference tournament,” Hamilton said. “We’re playing well right now.”

Grant Sherfield led UNR with 19 points on 8-of-22 shooting.

No other UNLV player finished in double figures. Senior point guard Jordan McCabe suffered through a rough shooting night, missing his first nine attempts from the field, but he dished out seven assists and finished with a team-best plus/minus of +19.

McCabe did persevere and eventually connected on two big shots in the final minutes to slam the door on UNR. After sticking the dagger with 1:23 to play, McCabe stared down the UNR student section, which had singled him out for harassment for most of the game.

McCabe said the exchange was all in good fun and turned his attention to the three games remaining on UNLV’s schedule — and the Mountain West tournament.

“I think that’s a big-time mark of a really good team,” McCabe said. “A team you don’t want to play in March. We’re trying to be that dangerous team that starts clicking at the right time.”

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