5 takeaways from UNLV’s loss at Fresno State
UNLV‘s Patrick McCaw, left, and Fresno State‘s Julie Lewis, right, chase the loose ball Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. (Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee)
Fresno State´s Karachi Edo (4), left, fouls UNLV‘s Dwayne Morgan (15), right, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee
UNLV‘s Dwayne Morgan, right, fights for the rebound with Fresno State´s Karachi Edo to the left, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. Fresno State edged out UNLV 111-104 in double overtime. Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee
UNLVs Patrick McCaw, left, grabs a pass by Fresno States Cullen Russo, center, with UNLV‘s Dwayne Morgan, to the right, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. (Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee)
Fresno State‘s Paul Watson, center, goes for the layup with UNLV‘s Jordan Cornish, right, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. (Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee)
Fresno States Cullen Russo, center, shoots for three points, with UNLV‘s Dwayne Morgan, left, and Derrick Jones, Jr., right, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. (Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee)
UNLV‘s Jerome Seagears, center, tries to grab the loose ball with Fresno State‘s Cezar Guerrero, left, and Karachi Edo, right, Saturday, February 6, 2016 in Fresno, Calif. (Eric Zamora/Fresno Bee)
Five takeaways from the UNLV basketball team's 111-104 double-overtime loss at Fresno State on Saturday:
- Until medical tests are completed, it's difficult to know for sure, but the left knee injury to Stephen Zimmerman Jr. doesn't appear to be nearly as bad as the one teammate Ben Carter suffered. Zimmerman walked without crutches after the game and watched the second half and overtimes from the bench.
- The zone works. Fresno State made its shots, and just because the opponent scores doesn't mean the defense is bad. Even when/if Zimmerman returns, the Rebels need to make the 2-3 zone a major part of their defensive plans.
- Many fans don't want to hear it, and it's understandable, but the Rebels have heart. This is a team that could have cashed it in after the mid-season coaching change, the injuries to Carter and Zimmerman, and then the 17-point deficit to Fresno State midway through the second half. But UNLV rallied and played hard to the end. That bodes well for the future.
- Speaking of the future, the schedule gets considerably easier. UNLV plays San Jose State and Colorado State this week at the Thomas & Mack Center, and next week travels to Air Force and hosts UNR. All are games the Rebels should win. If they do, the Rebels will move up in the Mountain West standings. Success over the next two weeks if vital because the regular season ends with trips to Boise State and San Diego State sandwiching a home game against Wyoming.
- But don't sleep on San Jose State. The Spartans are coming off back-to-back victories, including over Fresno State. Given UNLV's struggles and its uncertainty over Zimmerman's health, the Rebels are in no position to overlook anyone.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter:@markanderson65
