Bryce Hamilton scores 45 to lead UNLV past Colorado State

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 | 9:25 p.m.

Bryce Hamilton: Superstar.

UNLV’s senior guard turned in the best performance of his life on Friday, pouring in a career-high 45 points to lead UNLV to its most impressive win of the season, 88-74, at Colorado State.

Hamilton came out on fire, scoring 24 points in the first half to stake UNLV to an early double-digit lead, and he stayed scorching hot after the break, notching a number of key buckets down the stretch to help the Scarlet and Gray hold off Colorado State.

It’s the third time in the last four games Hamilton has scored 30 points, and it’s the first 40-point performance of his collegiate career. The 45 points are the third-most in a single game in UNLV history.

After exiting a raucous visiting locker room, Hamilton was asked if this was his best game.

“College for sure,” Hamilton said. “Playing on the road, with a hostile environment, it’s a great win. I’d say it’s probably one of my favorites. My best game.”

Hamilton wasn’t the only standout for the Scarlet and Gray.

UNLV traveled to Fort Collins shorthanded, missing starters Donovan Williams and Josh Baker due to injury and reserve guard Marvin Coleman due to illness. And Colorado State came in 16-1 on the season and undefeated at home, ranked No. 35 in the KenPom ratings. On paper it looked like a mismatch.

Don’t tell that to Justin Webster or Victor Iwuakor or David Muoka, however. All three stepped up and made key contributions in helping Kevin Kruger land his first signature win as a head coach.

Iwuakor earned a starting nod in place of Williams and was tasked with defending Colorado State leading scorer David Roddy. Iwuakor got help from Muoka and Royce Hamm throughout the game, and they worked together to limit Roddy, an All-America candidate, to 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

Muoka, a junior center who has struggled to carve out a defined role in his first season at UNLV, played a season-high 25 minutes and posted his best line of the year, tallying 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting with six rebounds.

Webster, a junior guard, came off the bench and popped in two momentum-shifting 3-pointers in the first half. He finished with nine points in 25 minutes.

Kruger said the team’s role players had a strong week of practice, knowing they would likely be pressed into service at CSU.

“They keep fighting,” Kruger said. “Guys knew their numbers were going to be called. There was no question about it, they were going to have to go in and play. But I think the start we had gave everybody confidence, so everybody was playing free.”

Hamilton couldn’t say enough about the effort of his supporting cast.

“This is a big-time win against a really good team,” Hamilton said. “It’s crazy. Everybody stepped up. David had 11 points, six rebounds. Web, he brought a good spark off the bench. Mike [Nuga] played good. Jordan [McCabe]. Everybody played well. We knew we were missing those guys and everybody stepped up.”

UNLV is now 12-9 on the season and 4-4 in Mountain West play, and while the role players answered the call, the Scarlet and Gray have Hamilton to thank for this win.

The 6-foot-4 lefty relied on his jump shot against Colorado State and finished 13-of-22 from the field, including 8-of-14 from 3-point range. And most of his production was unassisted; it was Hamilton vs. his defender, and Hamilton won.

UNLV led by as much as 22 points in the second half. Colorado State went on a late run to trim the deficit to 10 points but never got closer. Hamilton wouldn’t let them, as he connected on a timely 3-pointer and made his free throws down the stretch.

Kruger applauded Hamilton for carrying UNLV across the finish line.

“It was fun to watch,” Kruger said. “Bryce put the team on his back offensively, made some really tough shots. And even late, his confidence never wavers. Drawing a foul on a 3 at the end and knocking down free throws. To have 45 with five assists with [one turnover] is a pretty impressive stat line.”

With Roddy locked up, Colorado State shot just 43.1% from the field. Junior guard Isaiah Stevens went on a late burst to finish with 35 points, but with Hamilton churning out points like a machine on the other end, it wasn’t enough.

Hamilton is now averaging 22.0 points per game on the season.

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