UNLV couldn’t hold onto its halftime lead against Memphis, falling 80-74 after a late-game surge by the Tigers on Saturday. Dedan “DJ” Thomas Jr. led the Runnin’ Rebels with 22 points, but Memphis guard PJ Haggerty’s 29 points proved decisive. UNLV (1-1) now turns its focus to Omaha (2-1) in hopes of bouncing back tonight at home.
Tough loss to Memphis
The Runnin’ Rebels’ offense stalled late in the second half, giving Memphis the momentum needed to secure the victory.
The Runnin’ Rebels welcomed head coach Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers to Las Vegas for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
Memphis was the first true test for UNLV after its impressive win over Alabama State. The Runnin’ Rebels came into the contest 4-1 all-time against the Tigers.
In addition to Thomas’s team-high 22 points, forward Jalen Hill added 14 points, along with five rebounds, five assists and five steals for UNLV.
UNLV went into halftime up 34-30 after a physical first half. The Runnin’ Rebels shot 33.3% from the field in the first half. UNLV also managed to force 13 turnovers and score 12 points off those turnovers.
In the end, the Tigers’ late-game surge led by Haggerty gave the Tigers the win.
Haggerty paced the Tigers in scoring due to his ability to attack the interior and get to the free-throw line late in the second half.
A late-half slip for the Runnin’ Rebels, who controlled the game for the majority of the contest, ultimately led to their demise of a potential big victory.
“We can do things better,” UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger said. “Next practice, we have to get ready for a good Omaha team.”
Up Next: Omaha
Kruger now prepares his team for another home matchup, this time against Omaha at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. UNLV, which defeated the Mavericks 84-71 three seasons ago, holds a 2-0 all-time record against them.
Omaha suffered a late-game loss to Minnesota last week. The Mavericks went scoreless in the final minute of the game, giving the Golden Gophers a victory after the two teams traded scores late in the contest.
Senior forward Marquel Sutton leads the Omaha offense, averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game this season. The big is efficient in getting inside and finishing at the rim.
The Runnin’ Rebels bigs will need to contain the inside and limit scoring, something the team struggled with in their contest against Memphis.
Thomas, as the main ball handler, facilitates the UNLV offense. If the Runnin’ Rebels can take care of the basketball and start strong offensively, they can set themselves up in prime position to do well.
The Runnin’ Rebels currently sit at No. 93 in KenPom rankings. UNLV has a lot of ground to cover in the non-conference season to give themselves a shot at making the NCAA Tournament come March, along with preparing them for a tough Mountain West Conference.
