Live coverage: UNLV basketball blown out at San Diego State, 82-71

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 | 3:21 p.m.

The final buzzer just sounded on this game, and now the questions begin.

For the Scarlet and Gray, the big one is how will they recover after taking a 82-71 beating at the hands of San Diego State?

UNLV had been playing better of late, winning four of five coming into today's contest, but SDSU thoroughly dispatched the visitors, taking a 20-point lead at halftime and never letting it fall below 13 points until the final minute, long after the game had been decided. The loss drops UNLV to 16-9 on the season and 5-8 in Mountain West play.

There are still six games remaining in the regular season, and it feels like we still don't know exactly what this UNLV team is. The defense was nonexistent against San Diego State, as the Aztecs shot 51.7% in earning a season sweep over Kevin Kruger's squad. Adam Seiko led SDSU with 18 points, while Matt Bradley scored 15.

E.J. Harkless was the only UNLV player to answer the bell, pouring in 24 points on 5-of-12 shooting before fouling out late. The rest of the team shot just 17-of-42 (40.4%).

Kruger has two days to figure out what went wrong; UNLV will be back on the court to host San Jose State on Tuesday.

UNLV basketball down big at San Diego State

Midway through the second half, San Diego State has actually added onto its lead and now enjoys a 61-39 advantage over UNLV with 10:47 remaining.

With comeback hopes all but extinguished, it's time for UNLV to start looking for silver linings. On that front, E.J. Harkless's hot streak continues, as he's got 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting. And sophomore reserve Shane Nowell has given the team some good minutes in this half, coming up with a couple steals and a nice assist underneath to David Muoka.

Other than that, it's been more of the same as SDSU has scored at will (58.3 FG% since halftime).

Kevin Kruger is going to have his work cut out for him to get the team prepared for its next game on Tuesday.

UNLV getting blown out at San Diego State

UNLV just went the final nine minutes of the half without a field goal, allowing San Diego State to open a 43-23 lead as the teams head into the locker rooms.

The first 20 minutes could not have gone any worse for UNLV. SDSU clamped down on defense and the Scarlet and Gray had no answers; they shot 6-of-24 from the field and did not register a single assist, which illustrates how difficult all of their shots have been.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs got six dunks in the half and are shooting 51.5% as a team. It's really been no contest.

Keshad Johnson has 12 points to lead San Diego State, while Adam Seiko has chipped in nine. On the UNLV side, E.J. Harkless has 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting; no one else has more than four points.

A comeback may be statistically possible, but given the way UNLV has played today, it's going to take a miracle just to get back within striking distance.

San Diego State blitzing UNLV early

This one might already be over.

It's been a nightmare start for UNLV, as San Diego State just ripped off a 14-0 run to extend its lead to 30-14 with 9:01 remaining in the first half.

There has been very little resistance from the UNLV defense. SDSU is shooting 12-of-21 from the field, and five of those baskets have come on thunderous dunks. Keshad Johnson has a game-high 12 points and two jams.

E.J. Harkless leads UNLV with eight points, but the offense as a whole has been a mess; aside from Harkless the team is shooting 3-of-12 with four turnovers.

There is still enough time for UNLV to conceivably erase a 16-point deficit, but there haven't been many signs of life so far.

UNLV down early at San Diego State

UNLV is trying to withstand an early punch here at Viejas Arena, as San Diego State has jumped out to a 19-11 lead with 11:42 left in the first half.

UNLV has not been sharp on the defensive end so far. San Diego State scored on six of its first nine possessions and has made 8-of-14 from the field to this point. SDSU forward Keshad Johnson has been a particular thorn in their side, as he's got 11 points already on 5-of-6 shooting.

As usual, E.J. Harkless is shouldering the load on offense for the Scarlet and Gray. He just swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give him five points on 2-of-2 shooting. Luis Rodriguez is 0-of-4.

UNLV basketball set for second shot at first-place San Diego State

Is UNLV basketball poised to score a season-defining victory?

The Scarlet and Gray take on No. 25 San Diego State today (1 p.m., FOX), and a win would surely boost Kevin Kruger’s squad as they head into the final stretch of the season.

Three keys to watch:

UNLV surging

This might be UNLV’s toughest matchup of the season. San Diego State is firing on all cylinders, having just knocked off conference contenders Boise State and Utah State to hold on to their position atop the Mountain West (19-5 overall, 10-2 MWC). Even more daunting, the Aztecs are 9-1 at home on the year.

But UNLV may be catching them at just the right time. After suffering through a four-game losing streak, the Scarlet and Gray have suddenly won four of five and have as healthy a roster as they’ve enjoyed all season.

Senior guard E.J. Harkless is especially hot, averaging 24.6 points over the last five games while making 50.0% of his shots from the field. In the team’s 69-59 win at Wyoming on Wednesday, Harkless went for 33 points, tying his career high from earlier this season.

Kruger has pointed to Harkless and the rest of the veteran core as one reason why they’ve been able to survive the ups and downs of the season.

“The leadership and the experience showed up,” Kruger said. “We need this momentum to roll over to San Diego.”

UNLV’s defense is back

The recent run of success has been powered by a return to form on the defensive end. Over the last five games, UNLV has held opponents to 41.6% shooting, culminating in a suffocating performance at Wyoming that saw the Scarlet and Gray limit their overmatched opponent to 38.5% from the field.

When UNLV and SDSU met on New Year’s Eve, the Aztecs had their way on the offensive end, shooting 45.1% from the field and a blistering 52.4% from 3-point range. Matt Bradley (23 points) and Darrion Trammell (21 points) were particularly difficult matchups, and UNLV never did figure out a solution — SDSU claimed a decisive, 76-67 win.

UNLV ranks fourth in the Mountain West in KenPom’s adjusted defense metric, while San Diego State is No. 2.

Harkless believes UNLV can go toe to toe with anyone and win a defensive slugfest.

“We think we’re the best defensive team in the conference, and it’s on us to show that,” Harkless said.

Road warriors

UNLV done some of its best work on the road. They’ve won their last two away games by double digits, and their most impressive performance of the year came in a road victory at No. 21 New Mexico. If they can handle a sold-out crowd at The Pit, that bodes well for their mental makeup heading into Saturday’s showdown at Viejas Arena.

UNLV hasn’t won at SDSU since the 2019-20 season, but Harkless said the team is keeping their focus on the small details and not on what is sure to be a rollicking, intimidating atmosphere.

“Make it tough for them at their place, that’s our biggest thing,” Harkless said. “We’ve been pretty good on the road, defensively and offensively.”

Who: UNLV (16-8, 5-7 MWC) at San Diego State (19-5, 10-2 MWC)

When: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Viejas Arena

TV: FOX

UNLV leaders

Scoring: E.J. Harkless — 18.1 points

Rebounding: Luis Rodriguez — 5.6 rebounds

Assists: Keshon Gilbert — 3.6 assists

San Diego State leaders

Scoring: Matt Bradley — 13.0 points

Rebounding: Nathan Mensah — 5.8 rebounds

Assists: Darrion Trammell — 3.6 assists

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