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UNLV Secures Win in Game One 68-58 & How To Watch Game Two
Bryce Hamilton returns to help lift UNLV over Air Force
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Runnin’ Rebels beat Air Force in game one with leading scorer Hamilton back in the lineup.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada –The Runnin’ Rebels were hoping for a bounce back win on Saturday, after getting swept by their in-state rivals Nevada on the road last week. Coming into Saturday’s game, UNLV sat in 6th place behind the Wolf Pack in the middle of the conference standings. After Nevada’s upset win over conference leader Boise State on Friday night, the gap became a little larger between UNLV and 5th place.
Still, their next home series against the Air Force Falcons provided the opportunity for a couple of wins in the Thomas and Mack Center to hopefully get things back on track.
The Rebels were led by junior wing Bryce Hamilton who returned to the court after missing their series against Nevada last week with an ongoing ankle injury. Hamilton led the team with his fifth career double-double, dropping 22 points, grabbing 13 boards and dishing out five assists.
Chipping in on the scoring column was big man Cheikh Mbacke Diong with 16 points of his own to go along with 2 steals. Also looking sharp was freshman guard Nicquel Blake adding 11 points and continuing his new role as a distributor with 5 assists 1 turnover.
https://twitter.com/TheRunninRebels/status/1358182267588235264?s=20
And while Air Force kept things close with a 16-3 run in the second half to tie things up at 46 a piece. Ultimately a counter run by UNLV put them up 58-46 with about five minutes to play. The deficit proved to be too much for Joe Scott‘s Falcons, as the final buzzer sounded with a final score 68-58 UNLV.
https://twitter.com/TheRunninRebels/status/1358188033871237122?s=20
It wasn’t for a lack of trying on junior guard A.J. Walker’s part, as the Falcon’s leading scorer dropped 18 points on 6-12 shooting from the field. Walker played the entire 40 minutes and made all of his money behind the arc 6-10 from deep).
Game Two:
WHO: Air Force Falcons (4-13, 2-11 in the MW) vs. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (7-9, 4-5 in the MW)
WHEN: Monday, February 8th 6:00 PM PT/7:00 PM MT
TV: CBS Sports Network
Stream: The game can also be seen for free on FuboTV with a seven-day trial
RADIO: Tunein
Line: KenPom, Runnin’ Rebels favored by 12
UNLV can secure the sweep on Monday night and understand another win keeps them in a solid position mid-table going into their biggest test of the year next Thursday at Boise State.
Air Force is more than capable of creating a series split on Monday. The Falcons can be dangerous from beyond the arc when all cylinders are firing. But if too heavily relied upon they put their lack of a post presence on full display. Just look at Saturday night when they were outscored in the paint 46-10 by UNLV, but outscored the Rebels 45-6 on three point shots.
Just a little more diversification on offense for the Falcons can really turn the game in their favor.
Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.