FSM Essential Game Recap: Runnin Rebels vs Wolf Pack - Game 26

Runnin Rebels vs Wolf Pack

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UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (12-14, 7-6) | UNR Wolf Pack (16-10, 9-5)

 

UNLV lose in heartbreaking fashion to their in-state rival UNR, 82-79 in OT.

 

After winning a one-point game against Fresno State Saturday night, the Runnin’ Rebels were unable to keep up their late-game magic as they fall short this time. To make things worse, it was against their arch-rivals, The University of Nevada at Reno Wolf Pack. In their last meeting, in Reno, on Jan. 22, the Rebels lost to the Wolf Pack, 72-86. This was UNLV’s chance to split the season series. Unfortunately, UNR was able to leave the Thomas & Mack Center with the season series sweep.

Sophomore guard Bryce Hamilton once again led the team with 23 points, while also grabbing 9 rebounds, one shy of a double-double. This was his 13th straight game scoring in double-figures, continuing to add on his team-leading 14.9 points per game on the season. Junior guard Amauri Hardy scored 14 points, shooting 6-14 (42.8%) from the field. He is the second-leading scorer for the Runnin’ Rebels with 14.1 points per game. Junior guard Jonah Antonio contributed 14 points as well, providing some big momentum three-pointers throughout the first half. He finished the game shooting 4-12 (33%) from beyond the arc.

For the Wolf Pack, it was junior guard Jalen Harris who posted a game-high 29 points, while also grabbing 14 rebounds for the double-double. He shot 9-21 (42.8%) from the field and 11-15 (73.3%) from the free-throw line. Harris showed why he is the leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference and how he is averaging 21.2 points per game. Senior guard Jazz Johnson scored 19 points on 7-13 (53.8%) shooting from the field and going 4-8 (50%) from three. Senior guard Nisre Zouzoua contributed 12 points on 4-13 (30.7%) shooting from the field.

 

This was a really good game. The two teams went back and forth with five lead changes and nine ties.

 

The key difference in this one was the free throws. UNR shot 18-28 (64.3%) and UNLV shot a dismal 12-25 (48%) from the charity stripe. The Rebels lost the game by three points and missed 13 free throws. If they made just a few more of their attempts, they would have won the game. To put it in a much deeper perspective, UNLV made 12 Free throws in the game and Harris alone made 11. He almost made as many as free throws as the entire Rebel team.

The Wolf Pack barely won the rebounding battle at 52-51. As a matter of fact, the Rebels actually had fewer turnovers, a surprisingly low amount of seven, compared to UNR’s 13.

 

When it is all said and done, it really came down to the free throws as to why the Runnin’ Rebels lost this game.

 

With this loss, UNLV sits at sixth place in the conference, which is where they were picked to finish at the beginning of the season. UNR moved up to fourth place, surpassing Colorado State with this win.

Junior forward Donnie Tillman was seen limping after falling hard on the floor after a missed shot at the end of the first half. The reigning Pac 12 Sixth Man of the Year never returned out to the court after halftime. After the game, Runnin’ Rebel head coach TJ Otzelberger said that he did not know much about the extent of Tillman’s injury. Otzleberger said that he did not know where exactly on his lower body the injury is and how bad it is. He was just told that he was not going to be able to get back into the game for the second half.

UNLV will now have to hit the road to face New Mexico this weekend before coming back home to play against Colorado State.

New Mexico is right below UNLV in the conference standings with an overall record of 17-9 and 6-7 in conference play. The Rebels actually blew out the Lobos in their match-up earlier this season, 99-78. At the time, it was a pivotal game for two teams fighting for sole possession of second place of the conference.

 

The game will be on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3pm. It will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 AM.

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Buy Runnin’ Rebel tickets here

 

Isaiah Torres

Twitter: Isaiah_Torres24

 

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