Mike Grimala

Story Archive

UNLV football gets the band back together on first day of spring practice

Saturday, March 2, 2024

At its core, the 2024 UNLV football team looks a lot like the 2023 version, and that is a very good thing.

Game day: UNLV finishes off San Jose State, 68-50

Saturday, March 2, 2024

They didn't make it easy on themselves, but UNLV was able to pull away for a relatively comfortable 68-50 win over San Jose State ...

A look at key storylines for UNLV football as spring practices begin

Saturday, March 2, 2024

The Scarlet and Gray played their last game just over two months ago in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. It’s been a condensed offseason since then, with coaching carousel rumors and transfer portal news ...

UNLV football schedule finalized for highly anticipated 2024 season

Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

The Mountain West released its 2024 football schedule on Thursday, finalizing the slate for perhaps the most anticipated season in UNLV history. Coming off a 2023 campaign that saw Barry Odom lead his Scarlet and Gray squad to a 9-3 regular-season record ...

Luis Rodriguez, UNLV thread the needle in OT win at Wyoming

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024

On Tuesday, Rodriguez went the highlight route to put UNLV in the win column, completing a jaw-dropping behind-the-back pass that led to a game-sealing dunk in overtime ...

Game day: UNLV holds off Wyoming in overtime, 75-69

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024

Well, it took longer than it maybe should have, but UNLV is heading home with a win. The Scarlet and Gray dominated the paint in overtime to finally put away Wyoming, 75-69. Kalib Boone drew a foul on the offensive glass and made two free throws to put UNLV ahead early in the frame ...

All hands on deck as UNLV downs No. 22 Colorado State

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024

Senior center Isaiah Cottrell hasn’t scored in nearly two months, but why should that matter? Faced with an injury-shortened frontcourt rotation, UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger tabbed Cottrell ...

Game day: D.J. Thomas scores 23 as UNLV knocks off No. 22 Colorado State

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024

UNLV just knocked off another ranked opponent, downing No. 22 Colorado State, 66-60. D.J. Thomas came up clutch, as the freshman scored 18 points in the second half to lead the way. Thomas scored six in a row for UNLV to help build a 56-51 lead with less than three minutes ...

Lady Rebels look stronger than ever as they prepare for another Mountain West title run

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024

Junior point guard Kiara Jackson says the team is aiming to go further than the past two years, when it was eliminated in its opening game of the NCAA Tournament, and that they’re better equipped to make it happen.

UNLV gets physical in payback win over Air Force

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

Following Saturday’s 69-66 loss to UNR, most people focused on the way UNLV played in the final few minutes. Not Rob Whaley; he had a big problem with the way the team played for all 40 minutes ...

After close calls, UNLV 3-pointer streak lives on

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

When freshman guard D.J. Thomas swished a 3-pointer from the right wing six minutes into the second half of UNLV’s win at Fresno State a week ago, you could almost hear the collective exhale from the Scarlet and Gray faithful all the way in Las Vegas. It was UNLV’s first made 3-pointer of the game, and as it turned out, the only triple the team ...

Game day: UNLV basketball finishes off Air Force, 72-43

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

It took two tries, but UNLV made Air Force look like the worst team in the Mountain West tonight, as the visitors scored an easy 72-43 victory in Colorado Springs ...

UNLV loses late lead, falls to UNR

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024

With five minutes left in UNLV’s Saturday night showdown against UNR, the Scarlet and Gray were tied for first place in the Mountain West standings. By the time the final buzzer sounded ...

Game day: UNLV loses late lead, UNR storms back for 69-66 win

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024

That is a tough, tough loss for UNLV. The Scarlet and Gray had their five-game winning streak snapped, as UNR scored an improbable, 69-66 comeback victory at the Thomas & Mack Center ...

D.J. Thomas emerging as go-to guy for UNLV basketball

Friday, Feb. 16, 2024

Way back on Dec. 9, UNLV trailed by one point in the final seconds against Loyola Marymount. Freshman point guard D.J. Thomas drove to the free-throw line, rose up for a go-ahead floater — and missed. UNLV lost, 78-75 ...

UNLV basketball eyeing March run after fifth straight win

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024

It’s still the middle of February, but the UNLV basketball team wasn’t thinking about Valentine’s Day when they traveled to Fresno State for a key Mountain West matchup Wednesday. No, with the conference race ...

Game day: UNLV escapes Fresno with 67-65 win

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024

The Scarlet and Gray had to hold their collective breath on the final possessions, but UNLV held on for a 67-65 win at Fresno State ...

UNLV basketball turns tough to get back into Mountain West race

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024

There came a point during UNLV’s breakout 2023 football season when dream became reality, and a path opened for the Scarlet and Gray to lay eyes on a conference title. It happened due to a winning streak in Mountain West play, combined with teams above them ...

Winners and losers of Super Bowl week in Las Vegas

Monday, Feb. 12, 2024

The Super Bowl isn’t just 60 minutes of football — or in the case of Super Bowl 58, the 74 minutes and 57 seconds that were played at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. That’s a big part of it, sure, but the whole Super Bowl experience extends well beyond the game, taking over a city for an entire week and ...

How can Raiders get in on next Super Bowl in Vegas?

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024

Las Vegas is hosting the Super Bowl for the first time this year, and it’s been a nonstop party all week. Unfortunately, the local football team wasn’t invited ...

Game day: Chiefs win Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium

Mahomes touchdown pass wins it in OT, 25-22

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champs — again. Confetti is streaming onto the field at Allegiant Stadium after Patrick Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman for a 3-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Chiefs a 25-22 win over San Francisco ...

D.J. Thomas leads resurgent UNLV basketball to win at New Mexico

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024

UNLV basketball stayed hot on Saturday, as Kevin Kruger took his team on the road and knocked off No. 25 New Mexico, 80-77. The Scarlet and Gray have now won four straight games, their longest streak in conference play since ...

What to watch as UNLV heads into second half of MWC season

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024

The second bye of the Mountain West season came at the perfect time for the UNLV basketball team. They’ve got nine games behind them and nine games ahead of them ...

Readying for first Super Bowl, Reno native Brandon Aiyuk has love for Las Vegas

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024

There’s real animosity between Las Vegas and Reno. The two cities are historical rivals, especially when it comes to sports, and tempers can run high when Las Vegans and Renoites get to debating the various merits of their hometowns. But Brandon Aiyuk ...

After rocky start, Super Bowl players have rave reviews for UNLV facilities

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024

The UNLV football program didn’t expect to be front and center this week, as the biggest spectacle in American sports — the Super Bowl — descended on Las Vegas. But that was the situation on Monday, when negative reports about the on-campus facilities and practice fields ...

Not going to the game? A week's worth of activities for Super Bowl week

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

Super Bowl week can present a dilemma for fans in the host city: You can be the biggest football diehard in the world, but unless you’re willing to drop five figures on tickets ...

UNLV basketball heating up with third straight win

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

How quickly can things change in the Mountain West? Less than two weeks ago, UNLV dropped a 90-58 decision to last-place Air Force at the Thomas & Mack Center. At the time, it looked like it might be a season killer ...

Game day: UNLV wins third straight by finishing off Wyoming, 62-48

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Don't look now, but UNLV might be making a move in the Mountain West. The Scarlet and Gray just polished off Wyoming, 62-48, to move into a three-way tie for fifth place ...

D.J. Thomas exceeding expectations in 1st season at UNLV

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

It’s getting to that time of the season when freshmen typically hit “the wall,” as the physical and mental demands of their first season at the Division-I level combine to take their toll. Fortunately for ...

UNLV freshmen D.J. Thomas, Brooklyn Hicks team to deliver win over Fresno State

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024

UNLV may have gotten a glimpse of the future on Tuesday, as the freshman backcourt pairing of D.J. Thomas and Brooklyn Hicks teamed up to close out a 78-69 home win over Fresno State ...

Game day: UNLV basketball holds off Fresno State, 78-69

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024

UNLV is officially on a winning streak. The Scarlet and Gray knocked off Fresno State, 78-69, giving Kevin Kruger's squad two straight victories over Division-I opponents for the first time since beating Stetson and Pepperdine in the ...

UNLV freshman Brooklyn Hicks stepping into role as energy provider

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024

Like most college basketball players, Brooklyn Hicks was the man in high school. At Timberline, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged more than 25 points per game as a ...

Las Vegas aims for Super Bowl success, now and later

Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024

Las Vegas wants to make an impression. The goal wasn’t just to host the 2024 Super Bowl. It’s about hosting the 2029 Super Bowl and the 2035 game and the 2041 game and so on.

UNLV can't miss in bounce-back win at San Jose State

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024

The UNLV basketball team came into Saturday’s game at San Jose State ready to ignite, but first they had to wait their turn. After getting drilled by Air Force on Tuesday, 90-58, the Scarlet and Gray had three days off, frothing at the mouth, before ...

Game day: UNLV gets hot, gets a win at San Jose State

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024

Talk about shooting the lights out. UNLV just caught fire like we haven't seen this season, shooting 80% in the second half to come back and knock off San Jose State, 77-65 ...

Kruger: 'No words' as UNLV bottoms out in 90-58 loss to Air Force

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024

With 90 seconds left in the first half of Tuesday’s game against Air Force, Kevin Kruger tried to turn the tide. After Justin Webster hit a 3-pointer to trim Air Force’s lead ...

Analysis: What we know about UNLV basketball after early MWC gauntlet

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024

The Mountain West has five teams currently in the Top 50 of the NET rankings, and as luck would have it, UNLV opened the conference portion of its schedule by playing all five of them ...

Game day: UNLV suffers devastating blowout loss to Air Force

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024

It's finally over. Air Force just handed UNLV an 90-58 defeat at the Thomas & Mack Center, and the game was not even as close as the score indicates ...

Runner follows in family footsteps and makes UNLV history

Third generation of Okudas will don the Scarlet and Gray

Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024

Every Christmas, some 30 members of Gerry Okuda’s family know what they’re going to be unwrapping when it comes time for gifts. The size and shape may vary from year to year, but rest assured, it’s going to be Scarlet and Gray and it’s going to say UNLV in big block letters.

UNLV basketball can't close at Colorado State

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024

At the top of the Mountain West, the margins are thin. One player can make the difference in a close, hard-fought game, especially if he’s a closer ...

Game day: Colorado State rallies to sink UNLV, 78-75

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024

UNLV built a 10-point lead midway through the second half, but Colorado State rallied late to send the Scarlet and Gray home disappointed, 78-75 ...

UNLV basketball finds redemption by closing out Boise State

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024

Every UNLV player and coach walked off the floor at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday believing they should have won. They didn’t have to wait long for a second chance to prove themselves right ...

Game day: Webster is clutch as UNLV wins at Boise State

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024

UNLV got a second chance to close out a four-point lead, and this time Kevin Kruger's squad executed perfectly to earn a 68-64 win at Boise State ...

UNLV football lands coveted QB transfer after wild week of recruiting

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024

UNLV capped a wild — and massively productive — week of recruiting with a commitment from one of the most sought-after quarterbacks on the transfer market, sending expectations even higher for the upcoming 2024 campaign. Former Holy Cross grad transfer Matt Sluka reportedly pledged to the Scarlet and Gray on Monday, giving the program a potential superstar to ...

Group of UNLV supporters navigating new era of college football with NIL payouts

Monday, Jan. 15, 2024

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is headed to the University of Southern California after considering offers from both the Trojans and another college football powerhouse, Georgia.

Utah State uses 5-point play to shock UNLV, 87-86

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024

Kevin Kruger was at a loss for words through much of his postgame press conference after UNLV was stunned by Utah State on Saturday, 87-86 ...

Game day: Utah State stuns UNLV on final possession

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024

UNLV is going to feel this one for a while, as they allowed Utah State to pull out an improbable 87-86 win at the Thomas & Mack Center ...

Jalen Hill plans to return to UNLV next year with medical redshirt

Friday, Jan. 12, 2024

Jalen Hill is already on the comeback trail, and he intends to play basketball at UNLV again. The senior forward suffered a season-ending ACL tear on Saturday at San Diego State, and ...

UNLV bounces back with big win over New Mexico

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024

UNLV really needed that one. Three days after dropping a difficult Mountain West opener at San Diego State, Kevin Kruger’s squad regrouped and put forth one of their best performances of the season, dropping a good ...

Game day: Boone twins power UNLV past New Mexico

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024

Have a night, Boone twins. Kalib Boone scored 29 points, twin brother Keylan scored 17, and UNLV earned its first Mountain West victory by knocking off a good New Mexico team, 83-73 ...