FSM Essential Recap: UNLV vs Fresno State - Game 22

The UNLV men’s basketball team was coming off a road sweep at San Jose State and were winners of seven of its last eight games at the Thomas & Mack Center, hosted Fresno State in a pair of Mountain West games in Sin City with the first taking place Wednesday night.

The UNLV men’s basketball team lost a tough game 67-64 to Fresno State on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in the first game of a two-game Mountain West Conference series. The game’s final 30 seconds was action-packed. A three-pointer by Bryce Hamilton cut the Bulldogs lead to a single point, but the Runnin’ Rebels struggled on their next position, a missed three by Hamilton. 

After Fresno State’s Isaiah Hill, a 95% free-throw shooter on the road, made two free-throws, he was once again fouled and missed the first of two. After he hit the second free-throw, the Bulldogs armed with a foul to give called a time out. With just over 3 seconds to play, UNLV head basketball coach TJ Otzelberger drew up a play with the Runnin’ Rebels inbounding the ball on the Bulldogs baseline. Hamilton took the pass and looked to be expecting to be fouled, but he wasn’t and threw an errant pass in the direction of David Jenkins Jr. that went out of bounce as time expired.

Bryce Hamilton led the was for the Runnin’ Rebels with 27 points. Forward Mbacke Diong added 16 points, but they were the only UNLV players to score in double figures. Jenkins had 9 points but was 0-4 from three-point land. Hill was the Bulldogs leading scorer with 19, followed by Deon Stroud with 18 and Orlando Robinson with 12 points.

After the game, UNLV head basketball coach TJ Otzelberger said:

“We knew coming into this game that their defensive pressure, getting to the foul line, and second-chance points is their identity. Unfortunately, that came back to haunt us late. I thought their press wore us down and we had a lot of unnecessary fouls, which put them at the foul line late. We have to be more sound and fundamental in finishing plays and doing the things that we work on every day. That wasn’t the case here tonight and that’s why we came out with the loss.”

Game Notes:

• Fresno State shot 10 more free throws than UNLV, scoring eight more points at the line (17-9).
• Diong and Fresno State’s Anthony Holland each had a game-high eight rebounds.
• UNLV held the Bulldogs to 36.4% shooting from the floor for the game (20 of 55).
• There were a total of 13 lead changes and seven ties throughout.
• UNLV had won two straight games, four of its last six overall and seven of its previous eight at the Thomas & Mack Center.
• UNLV fell to 17-6 all-time against Fresno State at home.
• Fresno State had a two-point halftime lead, 32-30.
• UNLV dominated down low, outscoring Fresno State 30-14 in points in the paint.
• UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in an NCAA-record 1,124 straight games.