How to watch UNLV basketball
- What: UNLV at Wyoming
- When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
- Where: Laramie, Wyoming
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Radio: 1100AM, 100.9FM
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, and Rob Whaley dunked on a Wyoming defender for an and-1 midway through the extra period, making the free throw to push the lead to 69-64.
Boone was then fouled once again on an offensive rebound and again made a pair to extend UNLV's advantage to 70-64.
Wyoming's Brendan Wenzel rattled in a corner 3 to cut the deficit in half. With the shot clock winding down on the ensuing possession, Brooklyn Hicks drove into the paint, dished to Luis Rodriguez, and Rodriguez made the play of the game by bouncing a behind-the-back pass to Boone, who dunked it to seal the win.
UNLV made 2-of-5 from the field in overtime — both in the paint – and hit 10-of-11 free throws, with only the final two free throws coming via intentional foul.
Boone finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 8-of-8 from the line. D.J. Thomas struggled shooting the ball but posted 13 points and two assists in 37 minutes.
By winning tonight, UNLV improves to 10-5 in Mountain West play and moves into a tie for third place with San Diego State. The Scarlet and Gray have won eight of their last nine contests and are now 17-10 overall.
UNLV going to overtime at Wyoming
UNLV did not do a good job closing out this game, and we are heading to overtime, tied 61-61.
Senior center Kalib Boone has put the offense on his back, scoring a team-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. When Wyoming closed within three points with three minutes to play, Boone fought for a pair of offensive rebounds and was fouled going up the second time; he made both free throws to extend the lead.
With two minutes left, Boone scored on a nifty post move to increase UNLV's advantage to 55-50.
His twin brother Keylan Boone appeared to hit a dagger 3 to beat the shot clock with 54 seconds left, putting UNLV ahead 59-54, but Wyoming guard Mason Walters immediately converted a 3-point play of his own to pull the Cowboys within 59-57 with 42 seconds to play.
After a timeout, UNLV gave the ball to freshman point guard D.J. Thomas. He ran the clock, isolated at the top of the key and stuck a long 2-point jumper to make it 61-57.
Wyoming made two free throws, and UNLV had trouble inbounding, so Kevin Kruger had to burn his final timeout. Justin Webster was stripped on the ensuing possession, and Kael Combs was fouled in transition; Combs made both free throws to tie the score, 61-61, with 5.7 on the clock.
Webster committed another turnover on the ensuing inbound, when his pass led Rob Whaley out of bounds; that gave Wyoming the final possession with 5.1 seconds remaining. The Cowboys called timeout and got the ball to Sam Griffin, who missed a pull-up at the buzzer, sending the contest to overtime.
UNLV hanging on, up 51-48 at Wyoming
It's getting tense here in Laramie, as Wyoming has trimmed UNLV's lead to 51-48 with 4:35 to play.
Wyoming scored on three straight possessions, including going 4-of-4 from the free throw line, to get within a single possession. Mason Walters just had an open 3 attempt that would have tied the game, but he missed and Luis Rodriguez secured the rebound.
Kevin Kruger called timeout to set up his offense, so let's see what the Scarlet and Gray have drawn up.
UNLV basketball can't shake Wyoming
It might just be one of those Mountain West kind of nights for UNLV, as they simply can't shake an inferior Wyoming team. With 11:17 remaining, the Scarlet and Gray are up, 42-36.
UNLV has flirted with breaking this game open, even pushing the lead to 10 points coming out of the break, but Wyoming has found ways to stick around. The Cowboys are 2-of-3 from long distance in the second half, and 6-of-11 overall, and the buckets have been timely.
Kalib Boone is having his way in the paint, with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but clean entry passes have been an issue for his teammates tonight. That has limited Boone's touches, despite the fact that Wyoming doesn't have a good matchup for him in the post.
Justin Webster is playing his best game since returning from injury a few weeks ago. He's got 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Maybe he can get hot and create some separation for UNLV.
UNLV scratches out 23-19 halftime lead at Wyoming
After a very long 20 minutes in Wyoming, UNLV takes a 23-19 lead into the locker room at halftime.
UNLV went four minutes without scoring until Justin Webster made a 3-pointer from the right corner with less than a minute left in the half. After a defensive stop, UNLV ran a set play to get Kalib Boone a dunk off a dish from Brooklyn Hicks.
Boone is the team's leading scorer with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting. Webster made 2-of-2 from long distance to contribute six points. The rest of the offensive action has been ugly; aside from Boone and Webster, UNLV is 3-of-19 from the field.
The best thing for UNLV would be for D.J. Thomas to get going. The freshman point guard is the team's leading scorer on the season at 12.8 points per game, but has missed his last six attempts from the field and has three points on 1-of-7 shooting.
As much as UNLV has struggled offensively, the home team has been even worse. Wyoming made 6-of-24 in the half, good for 25.0%, and was just 3-of-11 from 3-point range.
It seems like the first team to go on any kind of substantial run could take control of this game. Let's see what UNLV has in store coming out of the break.
UNLV carves out early lead at Wyoming
The offensive pace has picked up just a little, and UNLV is benefitting, as the visitors have made two straight shots to build a modest 18-13 lead with 3:29 remaining in the first half.
Jackie Johnson swished a 3 off the dribble, and after a defensive stop, Kalib Boone finished off a post move with a nice half-hook to make it a 5-0 run. That counts as an explosive outburst tonight, as the teams have combined to make just 10 field goals.
D.J. Thomas made his first attempt, a 3-pointer in the early minutes, but has missed his last five shots and is now 1-of-6 from the field. Keylan Boone is 0-of-3 from 3-point range and 0-of-4 overall. Kalib Boone is leading the way with six points.
Wyoming is 4-of-18 as a team and 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
UNLV, Wyoming duking it out early
It's been a laborious start here in Laramie, and with 13:44 left in the first half, UNLV and Wyoming are tied, 5-5.
UNLV made just two of its first eight shots and committed three turnovers during that stretch. D.J. Thomas made a 3-pointer to provide most of the scoring punch.
So far, this game resembles the first meeting between these teams, when UNLV won a 62-48 rock fight on Feb. 3. UNLV shot 43.8% in that game, while Wyoming was limited to a woeful 34.6%.
As expected, junior forward Rob Whaley started the game. He suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against Colorado State, but practiced on Monday and looks like his normal self tonight, though he has yet to attempt a shot.
Rob Whaley back for UNLV basketball
There is no Mountain West team hotter than UNLV right now, as the Scarlet and Gray have won seven of eight to vault back into the race for the top of the standings.
Can Kevin Kruger’s squad keep pace with another victory at Wyoming on Tuesday (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network)?
Three keys to watch:
Whaley back
UNLV scored an inspiring win over No. 22 Colorado State on Saturday, but there was one negative — the status of junior big man Rob Whaley.
The starting forward went down early in the second half with an ankle injury and had to be helped off the court; he did not return to the game, raising concerns that he suffered a long-term injury.
Whaley’s father hopped online later that night to report some good news, however, saying it was nothing major:
The updates got even more positive on Monday, when Whaley participated in practice before the team traveled to Wyoming.
Whaley credited the team’s medical staff for getting him back on the court so quickly.
“Our trainers got me back. They got me good,” Whaley said. “They do a great job of getting me treatment, getting me right, getting me ready for this game.”
Whaley has been a key to UNLV’s resurgence, scoring in double figures in four straight games leading up to Colorado State. Whaley had six points and three rebounds in 19 minutes before leaving that contest.
Whaley said he wanted to return against CSU, but ultimately trusted his teammates to clinch the win.
“We’re rolling right now as a team,” Whaley said.
With Whaley likely back in the rotation on Tuesday, it looks like UNLV will be going into Wyoming at full strength.
Free points
Freshman point guard D.J. Thomas is a fast learner.
He came up short in UNLV’s last-second loss to UNR on Feb. 17, missing a pair of free throws in the final minute that would have given his team the lead. A week later, he went 12-of-12 from the line in a similarly close win over Colorado State.
Whaley commended Thomas for putting his misses behind him and delivering in the clutch.
“After he missed those free throws against Reno, I was talking to him, because we’re roommates,” Whaley said. “I was like, ‘It’s going to happen. You’re not going to make every shot.’”
Thomas responded by scoring 23 points — two off his career high — and going perfect from the stripe.
“The dude, he does that,” Whaley said. “He’s getting better and better and getting more mature on the court.”
Standings watch
UNLV is back in the top five of the Mountain West standings, tied for fourth with UNR. That means if the season ended today, Kruger and his crew would receive a bye in the first round of the Mountain West tournament.
No team has ever won the tourney without a bye, and UNLV isn’t getting into the big dance without winning the Mountain West tournament, so therefore, getting a bye is of utmost importance.
UNLV has played one fewer game than some contenders, so there’s still a chance, however slight, that the Scarlet and Gray could find themselves at the top when all is said and done — if they continue winning.
“We have four left, and a couple teams have three,” Kruger said. “It’s going to be a down-to-the-last-minute type of thing.”
Who: UNLV (16-10, 9-5 MWC) at Wyoming (13-14, 6-8 MWC)
When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Arena-Auditorium (Laramie, Wyoming)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 1100 AM, 100.9 FM
UNLV leaders
Scoring
D.J. Thomas: 12.8 points
Rebounds
Luis Rodriguez: 6.6 rebounds
Assists
D.J. Thomas: 5.6 assists
Wyoming leaders
Scoring
Sam Griffin: 17.4 points
Rebounds
Cam Manyawu: 6.4 rebounds
Assists
Sam Griffin: 3.4 assists
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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