Runnin’ Rebels go down to UNR

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels lost a close one 71-65 to in-state rival UNR.

UNLV has lost four straight by a combined 15 points.

Jaden Henley led the Runnin’ Rebels, scoring 14 points.

UNLV trailed by 12 early in the second half. They then proceeded to go on a 14-4 run to cut UNR’s lead down to two at 50-48 with 10 minutes left in the game.

The game was extremely close as a 3-pointer from Henley gave the Runnin’ Rebels a 57-55 lead with seven minutes left. The game went back and forth.

After back-to-back 3-pointers from Julian Rishwain, tied the score 63-63 with 2:30 left. UNR scored a bucket, then Dedan Thomas, Jr. connected on a jumper to tie the game again at 65-65.

The Runnin’ Rebels did not score another basket as UNR went on a 6-0 run to close the game.

Jeremiah Cherry and Thomas Jr .scored 12 points each. Cherry was also 4-for-5 from the floor.

Jailen Bedford scored nine points, while Jalen Hill added eight. Pape N’Diaye led the team with five rebounds.

Nick Davidson led UNR with 14 points and six rebounds.

Justin McBride and Kobe Sanders both scored 13 points each. Tyler Rolison scored 12.

The Runnin’ Rebels struggled with turnovers, turning the ball over 15 times.

“We’ve been in four close games. I’ve been telling them that we have given ourselves a chance to win close games. We are going to focus on the positive. This is going to turn for us and we are going to be on the other side of them,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “It is going to be because of having some close games here where we felt what it feels like to have an opportunity to make a play or have an opportunity to do something different. It is going to turn for us for the better and we are going to start coming out on top of some close game.”