UNLV turns up the defense to notch rivalry win over UNR

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023 | 10:39 p.m.

Did the UNLV basketball team somehow acquire a time machine? Is it November again?

It sure looked like it on Saturday, as the Scarlet and Gray clamped down on defense to earn a hard-fought 68-62 victory over UNR.

Kevin Kruger has spent the past few weeks pleading for a return to the defensive intensity that marked UNLV’s 10-0 start, and he finally got it — especially down the stretch.

UNLV led, 65-62, with 90 seconds left when Kruger reinserted sophomore Keshon Gilbert into the lineup. On that very possession, Gilbert stripped UNR guard Tre Coleman to end the threat.

The score was unchanged with 35 seconds remaining when UNR put the ball in the hands of leading scorer Jarod Lucas and asked him to go 1-on-1 against E.J. Harkless. Harkless shuffled his feet, got in front of Lucas’s drive and drew a charge.

For the game, UNR was limited to 36.4% from the field.

Kruger called the performance a return to form for the defense.

“Without a doubt,” Kruger said. “This was the first game in a while where you could feel that confidence that, defensively, we were going to make them earn it late.”

UNR came into the game ranked in the top 20 nationally in turnovers, but UNLV’s aggressive D was able to wring 19 takeaways out of the normally surehanded Wolf Pack.

Gilbert finished with four steals, while Harkless added two. Senior center Victor Iwuakor had a huge night in the middle, registering five blocks and two steals of his own in 28 minutes.

It was a throwback to the kind of all-around defensive effort that keyed UNLV’s hot start to the season, and though the team faltered in the early part of Mountain West play, they’ve now won two in a row and look to be regaining their form.

“We had great communication and did a really good job of staying balanced and in front of the ball defensively,” Kruger said. “Some big rebounds late. Just the scrapping and fighting that this group has been known for all year.”

UNLV is now 14-7 overall and 3-6 in conference.

Harkless battled through a tough shooting night to finish with a game-high 18 points (5-of-15 FGs). He scored several crucial baskets down the stretch and scored eight of his points in the final six minutes.

Lucas, who was defended by senior guard Eli Parquet for most of the night, finished with 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Second-leading scorer Kenan Blackshear was held to 14 points on 6-of-17 from the field.

UNLV will try to make it three wins in a row when they go on the road to take on Colorado State on Tuesday.

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