LAS VEGAS – Four Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures, led by Keylan Boone’s 19 points and eight rebounds, while Dedan Thomas Jr. had 17 points and five assists, in the UNLV men’s basketball team’s victory over Boston College, 79-70, Sunday night in the NIT’s second round at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Keylan Boone made five 3-pointers for UNLV (21-12) and also blocked three shots, while Kalib Boone added 16 points and six rebounds, Justin Webster scored 12 points with four assists, and Rob Whaley Jr. dished out five assists and had two steals.
The Eagles (20-16) were led by Quinten Post’s 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Devin McGlockton added 11 points and five assists, Jaeden Zackery scored 10 and Mason Madsen had nine points and eight rebounds.
STATS OF THE GAME: UNLV turned the ball over just one time in the game, while recording 17 assists. The Runnin’ Rebels also forced eight BC miscues that led to 14 Runnin’ Rebel points.
TURNING POINT: UNLV turned a 54-52 deficit with 11:30 to play into a 63-54 lead with eight minutes to go by going on an 11-0 run. BC cut its deficit to just four with 3:24 to go, but would get no closer.
BACK AND FORTH GAME: There were a total of nine lead changes and seven ties throughout.
QUOTABLE: “I’m just really happy for the seniors with this being the last time they will play in the Thomas & Mack Center with a UNLV jersey on. It will be a special memory. It was an unbelievable crowd, the best crowd of the year by a mile with an unbelievable atmosphere. It was really loud and the energy that they provided was one of the reasons that we were able to hang on and beat a good Boston College team.” – UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger.
21-WINS: UNLV has won 21 games in a season for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign when it went 25-10. Kruger’s first team won 18 games, his second squad won 19 and now this year’s has won 21.
OTHER NOTES:
– UNLV is 12-3 in its last 15 games.
– This was the first-ever meeting between Boston College and UNLV in men’s basketball.
– UNLV improved its all-time record in the NIT to 10-11. This marks the Runnin’ Rebels 11th appearance in the long-running postseason event.
– UNLV led by as many as 10 points in the second half vs. Boston College.
– UNLV shot 49.2% from the field (30 of 61) and 47.1% on 3-pointers (8 of 17) compared to 43.5% overall (27 of 62) for BC and 37.9% from long range (11 of 29). The Runnin’ Rebels made 51.7% (15 of 29) of their shots in the second half, including 50.0% from 3-point range (4 of 8).
– The game was tied at the half, 37-37.
– UNLV led in bench scoring, 23-9.
– Kalib Boone, who suffered an ankle injury in UNLV’s regular-season finale at UNR on March 9 and tried to play in the Mountain West Tournament, returned to action for the first time since.
– UNLV was also without Luis Rodriguez, who is attending to a family matter, and Jalen Hill, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in January.
– UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,226 straight games.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN’ REBELS: UNLV will travel back to New Jersey to play at No. 1 seed Seton Hall in the NIT’s quarterfinal round on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The Runnin’ Rebels’ first trip to the Garden State resulted in a first-round win at No. 2 seed Princeton (84-77) on Wednesday.
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