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UNLV Tops BYU In Overtime
Rebels earn a quality win
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UNLV beats former conference rival.
The UNLV Runnin Rebels got their first win in three games after taking down former Mountain West rival BYU 92-90. In the Rebels home away from home the T-Mobile arena. It was an Overtime thriller that Rebels almost lost after leading by 17 at halftime.
The Rebels went into the game without starting Forward Shakur Juiston who dressed, but did not play due to a knee injury. With Juiston out Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua started in his place.
In the beginning of the first half it was a back and forth contest between the two teams. The X-factor for UNLV came in the surprise of knocking down the three point shot. Kris Clyburn hit the first one of the game extending the streak to 1,048 straight games the Rebels have made a three pointer in.
Five different Rebels knocked down three pointers in the first half for a combined nine threes in the first half alone. Joel Ntambwe led the Rebels in scoring for the first half with 13 points. Going small and spacing the floor has to accredited to coach Menzies team being so hot from three.
BYU picked up their defensive intensity in the second half forcing UNLV to commit six turnovers eight minutes into the half. UNLV only had six turnovers in the entire first half. By the time Nick Emery hit a three with 9:19 to go in regulation to cut UNLV’s lead to nine the comeback was on. Jahshire Hardnett made two free throws to give BYU an 83-81 lead with 2:22 to go. Joel Ntambwe knocked down two clutch free throws for UNLV to tie the game and send it into overtime
In overtime BYU struck first with a jumper from Yoeli Childs. In the last minute of overtime Jahshire Hardnett beat Noah Robotham off the dribble getting to the rim to give the Cougars a 90-89 lead with 18 seconds to go.
Learning from the mistake of not calling a during the final possession in the prior game against Illinois, Coach Menzies took a timeout for the Rebels final possession of the game.
The play looked to get Robotham open with the use of off ball screens. After a pass from Hardy Noah Robotham took one dribble and sank a three as time expired.
https://twitter.com/davidstepanian_/status/1074149045231181824?s=19
Up next, UNLV takes on Hawaii in only their second road game of the season.
Going forward it will be interesting to see how long Senior Shakur Juiston will be sidelined with the knee injury.
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