5 takeaways from UNLV’s victory over Wyoming
February 28, 2016 - 3:43 pm

UNLV forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) blocks Wyoming guard Jason McManamen (23)during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (22) is defended by Wyoming guard Jeremy Lieberman (11) and Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Ike Nwamu (34) knocks the ball away from Wyoming forward Jordan Naughton (33) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV forward Derrick Jones Jr. (1) is fouled by Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) and Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) fight for the ball during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Jalen Poyser (24) takes the ball to the net while defended by Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) dunks the ball over Wyoming center Jonathan Barnes (21) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (22) and Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) fight for a ball during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (22) looks to get past Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) goes to the net while being defended by Wyoming center Jonathan Barnes (21) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Austin Starr (20) looks to get past Wyoming guard Jason McManamen (23) during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV forward Derrick Jones Jr. (1) is fouled by Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (22) looks to get past Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. UNLV won 79-74. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV guard Jalen Poyser (24) takes the ball to the net while defended by Wyoming guard Josh Adams (14) during the first half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Five takeaways from the UNLV basketball team’s 79-74 victory over Wyoming on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
1. Jerome Seagears is tough. He really shouldn’t be playing on his injured right heel, but Seagears put in 24 minutes and made 6 of 8 3-pointers despite missing the two previous days of practice. His 3-pointer with 3:45 to go gave the Rebels the lead for good at 65-62.
2. The importance of the return of Stephen Zimmerman Jr. to the lineup can’t be overstated. He finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and gave his teammates the chance to play their more normal positions and not have to be on the court for so many minutes.
3. Patrick McCaw doesn’t have to score to be effective. He made only 2 of 8 shots and totaled five points, but McCaw handed out nine of his team’s 21 assists. He also had the responsibility of guarding Wyoming’s Josh Adams, who scored 31 points, but McCaw made his own plays with three steals.
4. Derrick Jones Jr. is becoming a more complete player rather than just a high-flying dunker. He scored 48 points in the past two games combined and collected 16 rebounds. What’s more is Jones, a liability at the line all season, made 22 of 25 free throws in those two games.
5. Hello, time off. Except for Zimmerman, this comes at a welcome time for the Rebels. They need the mental break as much as a physical one.
— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65