Bryce Hamilton scored 30 points for UNLV, and freshman Keshon Gilbert excelled in his first start after Donovan Williams was declared out with an injury shortly before tipoff.
UNLV Basketball
UNLV defeated San Diego on Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center to end nonconference play at 8-5. Donovan Williams and Bryce Hamilton each scored 20 points.
UNLV has created a program called The Vegas Effect to assist its athletes as they become eligible next year to profit off their name, image and likeness.
The hire by UNLV’s Desiree Reed-Francois is a gamble. When you hand the keys of a program to a coach who has never sat in the lead chair, unknowns outweigh certainties.
Kevin Kruger, a former UNLV player and an assistant coach the past two seasons, was introduced as the Rebels’ head coach Monday. He signed a five-year, $3.85 million contract.
The Mountain West and Big West are the first of five conferences with tournaments in Las Vegas to announce its policy on fan attendance.
UNLV led by as many as 14 points before holding off a late comeback effort by San Diego State to stun the No. 4 Aztecs 66-63 on Saturday at Viejas Center.
Jalen Harris scored 28 points to lead UNR to a 86-72 victory over UNLV on Wednesday night in Reno. Bryce Hamilton led UNLV with 26 points, and Amauri Hardy scored 23.
UNLV acting president Marta Meana and UNR president Marc Johnson posted a video on Twitter asking for good sportsmanship for the basketball game between the teams Wednesday night.
UNLV plays Southern Methodist at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels face one of the country’s top offensive rebounding teams in SMU.
UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger said the school cooperated with the NCAA regarding Joel Ntambwe’s waiver request to play this season at Texas Tech, but indicated the evidence didn’t support a claim.
DeMarlo Slocum was a star basketball player at Eldorado. He later helped create the Las Vegas Prospects AAU team. Now he’s in his first season as a UNLV assistant.
Marvin Coleman, who walked on last basketball season, was put on scholarship by UNLV. That is the Rebels’ last available scholarship.