UNLV Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) is congratulated by teammates Luis Rodriguez (15) and EJ Harkless (55) after making a basket and drawing a foul during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against the Fresno State Bulldogs Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Published Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Updated Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 | 10:28 p.m.
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UNLV watched a late lead disappear, and Fresno State stunned the Scarlet and Gray for the second time this year, 82-79.
UNLV had a chance to pull off a comeback after Keshon Gilbert drove and finished an and-1 layup to pull UNLV within 78-77 with 23 seconds remaining. After Fresno made a pair of free throws, Gilbert drew another foul while grabbing an offensive rebound and knocked down two FTs of his own with seven seconds remaining.
Fresno inbounded to UNLV-killer Isaiah Hill, and Hill made both free throws to restore the lead. UNLV committed a turnover on the ensuing inbound with four seconds left to end it.
Fresno State came into the night rated as one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging just 0.93 points per possession. Against UNLV, however, they morphed into a buzzsaw, shooting 50.0% from the field, 52.9% from 3-point range and scoring 1.26 points per possession. It's the same script the Bulldogs followed to top UNLV, 76-63, just two weeks ago.
E.J. Harkless led UNLV with 27 points, but he was outdueled by Hill, who scored 22 on 8-of-13 shooting. Hill dominated UNLV in both meetings this season, totaling 50 points.
UNLV is now 15-8 on the season and 4-7 in Mountain West play, with two of those losses coming to Fresno State. They'll try to right the ship on Wednesday when they travel to take on Wyoming.
Fresno State surges ahead of UNLV late
UNLV is suddenly fighting for its life, as Fresno State has used a 13-3 run to surge ahead, 70-64, with 5:10 remaining.
Leo Colimerio just added an exclamation point to the run, racing ahead of the defense for a breakaway dunk that forced Kevin Kruger to call timeout to stem the momentum. Fresno State is now shooting an even 50.0% in the second half; for some reason, UNLV just can't seem to get stops against the Bulldogs this year.
E.J. Harkless is doing what he can to keep UNLV alive, as he's got 11 points in the second half and 23 on the night.
Unless the Scarlet and Gray buckle down on defense, they could be looking at their second disappointing loss of the season at the hands of Fresno State.
UNLV maintains slim lead over Fresno State
It's been a choppy start to the second half, but UNLV is rolling with it well enough to still have a 55-51 lead with 12:20 on the clock.
E.J. Harkless is doing work on the offensive end, scoring seven points since the break to give him 19 on the night. He just checked out for a breather, but expect him to be the focal point of the offense down the stretch as usual. Harkless is 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Fresno State is struggling to create good shots but have used a couple second-chance opportunities to stay close. Isaiah Hill has 15 points to lead the Bulldogs.
Justin Webster may be warming up, which would be a welcome development for UNLV. He just dribbled around a pick and knocked in a smooth mid-range jumper, which prompted Fresno coach Justin Hutson to call timeout. That was Webster's first bucket in 18 minutes off the bench.
Harkless, Gilbert have UNLV up on Fresno at half
UNLV's starting backcourt is cooking, and UNLV has taken a 43-37 lead at halftime.
E.J. Harkless and Keshon Gilbert have both been aggressive, scoring 12 points apiece on combined 7-of-12 shooting. Gilbert also had a nice assist in the final minute of the half, driving and throwing a lob to David Muoka for an alley-oop dunk.
Muoka has made the biggest impact on the defensive end. He didn't check in for the first time until there were seven minutes left in the half, but he played the rest of the way and UNLV was +7 during his time on the court.
Isaiah Hill is once again torturing UNLV at the other end. He scored 28 points in the last meeting between these teams, and he's got 13 tonight on 5-of-7 shooting.
If UNLV can figure out a way to slow down Hill, they can probably put this game away over the next 20 minutes.
UNLV takes 31-28 lead over Fresno State
David Muoka has changed the game since checking in four minutes ago, and UNLV now has a 31-28 lead over Fresno State with 3:25 remaining in the first half.
Muoka scored a post bucket and was fouled on the finish, so he'll shoot the and-1 free throw after the timeout. But his biggest contribution has come at the other end of the floor, as he has deterred several shots around the rim and generally put the stall on the Fresno offense.
Fresno State has just one field goal in the last four minutes, allowing UNLV to go on a 7-3 spurt to gain the lead.
E.J. Harkless leads the Scarlet and Gray with 10 points. Fresno State point guard Isaiah Hill is once again giving UNLV a hard time with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Fresno State takes early lead over UNLV basketball
The first eight minutes have been a little concerning from UNLV's perspective, and with 11:28 remaining in the first half, Fresno State is holding a 19-16 lead.
It's been a worrisome start because the Scarlet and Gray can't seem to get a stop. Fresno is an offensively challenged team, but they had their most efficient outing of the season in the first matchup with UNLV, and now they've opened this game by making seven of their first 10 shots.
UNLV is getting good play from its bench again, as Shane Nowell and Keyshawn Hall have combined for six early points, and Nowell will shoot a pair of free throws after the timeout.
Streaking UNLV basketball set for rematch versus Fresno State
UNLV basketball will try to extend its winning streak — as well as its revenge streak — on Friday when the Scarlet and Gray host Fresno State at the Thomas & Mack Center (8 p.m., FS1).
The win streak currently sits at three games thanks to UNLV rediscovering its defensive identity. The most recent triumph was an impressive 83-71 victory over Colorado State, a team that had beaten UNLV earlier in the year; now Kevin Kruger’s squad will have another opportunity for payback on Friday, against a Fresno State team that handed them an ugly loss less than two weeks ago.
Senior guard Justin Webster said he and his teammates still have a chip on their shoulders from that loss at Fresno. Can they get even?
Three keys to watch:
Parquet changing defense
UNLV regained its mojo on the defensive end at exactly the same time senior guard Eli Parquet returned from a knee injury that kept him out for six weeks. It’s not a coincidence.
In the first meeting against Colorado State, Isaiah Stevens torched the Parquet-less defense for 33 points; on Tuesday, Parquet spearheaded an effort that held Stevens to 18 inconsequential points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Kruger has called Parquet the best on-ball stopper in the country, and sophomore guard Keshon Gilbert said his return has helped the entire defense.
“He definitely takes a weight off of everybody’s shoulder,” Gilbert said. “Harassing the ballhandler the whole game. He’s a defensive anchor, really. He helps everybody out.”
When UNLV lost at Fresno State on Jan. 21, Bulldogs senior guard Isaiah Hill poured in a game-high 28 points. Look for Parquet to draw that assignment this time around.
Keys in the Hall
Keyshawn Hall got off to a slow start this season, scoring just 13 total points against Division-I competition in non-conference play. But the freshman kept working, and now it’s paying off.
Hall has turned into a critical reserve for UNLV, scoring in double figures in four of the team’s last five games. Standing 6-foot-6 with plenty of heft, he has been able to muscle his way into the paint and score at will against smaller defenders, shooting 65.5% during his hot stretch.
Fresno State is the first opponent that will be ready for him, however. In the last meeting, Hall came off the bench and posted 10 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes; now the Bulldogs will have a plan for defending him.
Will Hall be as effective now that he’s on the scouting report and not sneaking up on anyone?
Webster doesn’t think it will matter.
“Keyshawn is a matchup nightmare,” Webster said. “He’s big, he’s physical, he’s strong. He’s shown he can knock shots down. He’s been able to post up and make shots around the rim. I think it has created more problems for teams, for sure.”
McCabe day to day
UNLV may be shorthanded in the backcourt again, as senior point guard Jordan McCabe did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
McCabe’s back flared up before Tuesday’s game at CSU, according to Kruger, and he did not suit up for that contest.
Kruger didn’t rule McCabe out for Friday, instead labeling him “day to day.” McCabe is enough of a veteran that if his back feels better during pregame warmups, Kruger would have no qualms about throwing him into the rotation despite not playing or practicing all week.
Who: UNLV (15-7, 4-6 MWC) vs. Fresno State (7-14, 3-7 MWC)
When: Friday, 8 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center
TV: FS1
UNLV leaders
Scoring: E.J. Harkless — 17.0 points
Rebounding: Luis Rodriguez — 5.8 rebounds
Assists: Keshon Gilbert — 3.6 assists
Fresno State leaders
Scoring: Isaih Moore — 11.9 points
Rebounding: Isaih Moore — 7.7 rebounds
Assists: Isaiah Hill — 3.7 assists
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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