UNLV blows out mismatched Mississippi Valley State, 95-63
By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal
UNLV Rebels guard Jovan Mooring (30) and UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) guard Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils forward Dante Scott (1) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels are introduced at the start of a basketball game against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels are introduced at the start of a basketball game against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels are introduced at the start of a basketball game against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils center Emmanuel Ejeh (10) fails to capture a rebound during the first half of a basketball game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) returns to the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels guard Jovan Mooring (30) scores against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils forward Arinze Anakwenze (21) and UNLV Rebels guard Jovan Mooring (30) stare down the basketball during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils head coach Andre Payne reacts during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils guard Nate Nahimy (22) guards UNLV Rebels guard Kris Clyburn (1) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels head coach Marvin Menzies reacts during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils forward Davere Creighton (20) is guarded by UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels guard Jordan Johnson (24) reacts during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) scores against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) is guarded by Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils guard Jordan Evans (3) and Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils center Kaleb Allison (32) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) blocks Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils center Emmanuel Ejeh (10) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) guards Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils forward Arinze Anakwenze (21) during the first half of a basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. UNLV Rebels won 95063Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV committed six turnovers in its first eight possessions and 11 for the first half — and still led by 31 points.
Mississippi Valley State, rated last by Kenpom among the nation’s 351 Division I basketball teams, was a complete mismatch for the Rebels. By the time Wednesday night’s game at the Thomas & Mack Center had reached its merciful conclusion, UNLV had picked up a 95-63 victory.
The Rebels (10-2) have just one nonconference game remaining, Friday at home against Northern Colorado.
They then will take an eight-day break before beginning Mountain West play Dec. 30 at the Mack against Boise State.
Which figures to be a much more considerable challenge than the now 0-12 Delta Devils.
UNLV shot 63 percent for the game, and scoring was fairly even with six players reaching double figures. Brandon McCoy and Jovan Mooring each scored 13 points to lead the Rebels. Shakur Juiston registered his sixth double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Dante Scott led Mississippi Valley State with 27 points.
Not that this kind of outcome was unexpected. UNLV was favored by 32½ points, a number the Rebels nearly covered in the first half alone in taking a 52-21 lead.
