The UNLV Runnin' Rebels encountered a tough setback yesterday night, failing to secure victory on their home court against the Wyoming Cowboys, with a nail-biting 63-61 finish. According to an article on UNLV Runnin' Rebels official athletics website, the Runnin' Rebels now hold an 11-8 season record and are 5-3 in conference play, following the tightly contested match.
Despite the spirited late effort to quickly turn the game around, which saw UNLV go on an 8-0 run in the closing minute, a potential tie-leading shot by Dedan Thomas Jr. bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Thomas Jr. led the Rebel scorers with 17 points and four assists. Teammates Jaden Henley and Bear Cherry also made substantial contributions, with Henley scoring 15 points and Cherry nearly achieving a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Cowboys were not to be outdone, especially from the three-point line, where they shined by knocking down 14 triples. Wyoming's Obi Agbim scored a game-high 19 points, making five of those long-range efforts, while Jordan Nesbitt added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Wyoming turned a slight halftime lead into a comfortable cushion with a decisive 14-4 run in the second half—cited as the turning point of the game by UNLV's Athletic Department.
UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger didn't mince words, addressing his team's overall performance. "We just didn't come out with the same kind of punch and the same fight as Wyoming did and more times than not in this league, the team that plays harder for 40 minutes is going to end up winning and that's what happened tonight," Kruger candidly told UNLV Runnin' Rebels official athletics website.
The Rebels shot 39.7% from the field and a lackluster 26.3% from beyond the arc, encountering a Wyoming defense that forced them to rely on less productive scoring avenues. Yet, the Rebels did manage to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 18 points off Wyoming's 16 miscues. The upcoming schedule doesn't get any easier for UNLV, as they prepare to quickly bounce back to host New Mexico on Saturday, aiming for a more favorable outcome.
