Energized Seagears, Rebels blow out Air Force, 100-64

A week ago, senior guard Jerome Seagears said, UNLV hit “rock bottom.” A three-game losing streak and a coaching change put the team at its lowest point.

Suddenly, though, things are looking up. The Rebels are running away from the past and restoring optimism in a once-bleak season.

Seagears was the catalyst Saturday night, sinking all five of his 3-point attempts and scoring a season-high 17 points as UNLV put a 100-64 beating on Air Force at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“When you hit rock bottom, it’s only up from there,” he said. “We know we can play with the best in our league.”

The Rebels (11-7, 2-3 Mountain West) moved to 2-0 under interim coach Todd Simon, who was promoted Sunday when Dave Rice was fired as coach. Simon’s commitment to pressure defense and transition offense has created a new look and improved attitude.

“The guys are playing selfless basketball, making free throws and limiting turnovers,” Simon said.

UNLV’s star freshmen are playing the part, too. Derrick Jones Jr. totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds, and 7-foot Stephen Zimmerman Jr. finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the week.

“We just crashed the glass and got the rebounds,” said Jones, who had two of the team’s eight blocked shots.

The Rebels’ size advantage mattered, and their big men dominated. Junior forward Ben Carter added eight points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Hayden Graham scored 18 points for the Falcons (10-8, 1-4). The fast pace was too much for a weak Air Force team to handle, and the outcome was decided early.

Seagears hit back-to-back 3s, Dwayne Morgan scored on a putback, and Jones dunked as part of a three-point play as the Rebels raced to a 25-5 lead eight minutes into the game. Patrick McCaw made a 3-pointer, and Ike Nwamu added two 3s during a 9-0 burst that stretched the score to 46-17.

Simon has pushed the right buttons in his first week in charge. UNLV’s offensive efficiency has improved dramatically along with all aspects of its shooting. The Rebels made 13 of 25 3-pointers and 19 of 20 free throws against the Falcons.

“Coach Simon has us shooting a lot of free throws,” Seagears said.

Sophomore guard Jordan Cornish added, “If we miss a couple, we’ve got to shoot 50 or 60 more after practice.”

UNLV committed 57 turnovers in its first three conference games. In two games with Simon in charge, the turnover count was cut to 19, including 12 on Saturday. Cornish came off the bench to contribute eight points and six assists.

“Jordan is a spiritual leader. He has been such an unselfish player,” Simon said. “He came in, and all of a sudden he’s John Stockton.”

Seagears, who was hitting 25.9 percent of his 3s on the season, scored 11 points to spark the Rebels to a 53-25 halftime lead.

“If you shoot with confidence, eventually they will drop,” Seagears said.

When the team was slumping, so were Seagears and McCaw. Seagears said the players were too “uptight” during the losing streak and feeling the pressure that was on Rice. McCaw and Seagears operated the offense and led the the team with more confidence in the week’s victories over New Mexico and Air Force.

“I’ve known Jerome since he was in high school. He put 36 points on me, which he likes to remind me,” said Simon, a former Findlay Prep coach. “He scored 17 on seven shots tonight. It doesn’t get any more efficient. He’s dictating the game. I couldn’t be any happier for Jerome.”

After one week under Simon, things are looking up for UNLV. But the Rebels are about to hit the road — to Utah State on Tuesday and UNR on Saturday — and life is not as easy away from home.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.