In a display of dominance on the court, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels took down the Memphis Tigers with a convincing 92-78 victory last Sunday. The Rebels, fresh off the bus for their first road game of the season, didn't show any signs of travel fatigue as Howard Fleming Jr. and Issac Williamson each dropped 25 points to propel their team to an even 2-2 record. Fleming Jr. was also tenacious in the rebound department, snagging 12 to seal his first double-double of the season, reported AP News.
While Memphis attempted to set the tone early, scoring the first five points, UNLV responded with an 18-3 run that essentially set the stage for the rest of the game. The energy in FedExForum shifted as UNLV led by 16 points with just under three minutes remaining in the first half, which witnessed the Rebels making over half their field goal attempts. Furthermore, the win snapped a 11-game home win streak for Memphis, underlining UNLV's stand-out performance during the match-up. UNLV's head coach, Josh Pastner, made a notable return to Memphis, where he was previously at the helm for seven seasons, and was honored with a pregame video tribute, according to details shared by UNLV's official athletics website.
The robust win featured not just scoring heft from Fleming Jr. and Williamson, but contributions across the board. Tyrin Jones and Kimani Hamilton also racked up double-digit points, with 14 and 13, respectively, bolstering the Rebels' offense. On defense, the Rebels handicapped Memphis' lead scorer, Dug McDaniel, holding him to a paltry 1 of 10 shooting. UNLV head coach Josh Pastner praised his team, stating, "Good win for us, really proud of our guys. We had a little bit of a tough stretch to start the season. We've had some injuries and we are trying to figure it all out as we go, taking over a new job and trying to establish culture," as covered by UNLV's athletics news.
The Rebels' stats reflected a team in sync: shooting 50% from the field for the game, and commanding the boards with a 36-32 advantage over Memphis. Moreover, UNLV's insistence on ball security was evident as they tallied a season-high 13 steals, and applied pressure that forced 18 Memphis turnovers, which translated into 30 points. Adding a historic note to their performance, UNLV has now made at least one 3-pointer in a staggering 1,264 consecutive games, carrying on a legendary NCAA streak. In a roster update, UNLV remained without the services of Mason Abittan, Myles Che, and Emmanuel Stephen due to injuries, with Ladji Dembele also sidelined.
Looking ahead, the Runnin' Rebels will return to their home turf at Thomas & Mack Center to face Saint Joseph's on Thursday, Nov. 20. Fans looking to catch the action in person can snag tickets at UNLVtickets.com, with prices starting modestly at just $11. For a team finding its rhythm, this next home game could provide another chance to showcase their evolving identity under Pastner's guidance.
