Runnin’ Rebels overcome ‘unique’ situation

LAS VEGAS – The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels consider every nonconference game to be a way to prepare for the Mountain West season.

Four UNLV players scored in double figures as the Runnin’ Rebels outlasted the Alabama State Hornets 93-79 at Thomas & Mack Center on Monday.

“Every nonconference game for us has a little bit different of a challenge and to prepare us for conference,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “Alabama State bringing back five starters. They’re a team that is going to be pretty comfortable, used to each other, and understand each other pretty well. They presented a really good and a unique situation for us.”

Forward Jeremiah Cherry led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds in his Runnin’ Rebel debut.

“I’ve been doubted in my whole life. So, it felt great to get out and let people know who I am,” Cherry said. “So, yeah, it felt amazing.”

Here are some takeaways from the game:

A ‘Bear’ to handle

Cherry was perfect from the floor in the first half (6-for-6) and finished only missing one shot. His fellow big man Rob Whaley also had a strong night, going 3-for-3 with four rebounds.

The Rebels did an excellent job of getting to the interior. They outscored Alabama State 42-26 in the paint.

“It was a bucket every time [Cherry] got it. So, I mean, him and Rob [Whaley] especially, they couldn’t stop them down there,” sophomore guard D.J. Thomas said. “So, we just kept feeding them.”

For Cherry, playing down low and getting physical is one of his strengths, and he looks forward to helping the team get its paint touches.

“I’m going to use it to our advantage, just like help getting guys open and things like that, because I’m not scared to hit,” Cherry said. “I’ve never been scared to hit, and so I think I’m going to use it to help our whole team just to get us marching.”

Go D.J.

Thomas, who rolled his ankle in practice a week ago, looked perfectly fine. The Hornets struggled to stay in front of him all night, leading to Thomas drawing numerous fouls to head to the free-throw line.

He scored 17 points with eight assists and no turnovers. He was plus-21 in plus-minus on the night.

The biggest impact, however, is Thomas’s leadership on the floor. Some consider Thomas to be a quiet leader, but Cherry was quick to debunk that.

“You guys might think D.J. is quiet. He’s not,” Cherry said.

Kruger added that Thomas has grown as a leader, making his voice heard more that he’s in his second season on the team.

“He was 17 when he got here, and we had three guys older than 23, he was kind of trying to find his place a little bit and figure out how to talk to everyone,” Kruger said. “He’s done a much better job communicating on the court this fall. He doesn’t have to be loud; he doesn’t have to be a rah-rah guy and yell so the whole gym hears him. But as long as he’s communicating on the court in timeouts and huddles, then he’s doing his job.”

Runnin’ Rebel Defense an area to ‘work on’

If there is one area that the Runnin’ Rebels need to work on, it’s their defense.

In the first half, Alabama State shot 48.3 percent and 56 percent from 3-point territory and stayed within single digits for most of the game.

The Rebels locked down in the second half, limiting the Hornets to 41 percent from the floor and 31 percent from 3.

“We do have a lot of things that we need to work on on defense,” Cherry said. “Just like being more aggressive and things like that. We’re letting them do a lot of things they wanted to.”

Paul Delos Santos is the Las Vegas sports insider for Dice City Sports. Follow him on X at @PaulDelos_.