UNLV opens T.J. Otzelberger era with 86-71 victory
The Runnin' Rebels opened up the season under new head coach T.J. Otzelberger with an 86-71 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday night.
Updated November 5, 2019 - 11:34 pm

UNLV Rebels forward Nick Blair (20) dunks the ball over Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) during the half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Donnie Tillman (2) gets inside of Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) for a shot during the half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Elijah Mitrou-Long (55) gets off a hook shot over Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) during the half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Nick Blair (20) dunks the ball over Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) during the half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) attempts a dunk over Purdue Fort Wayne forward Dylan Carl (11) during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34, left) rejects a shot by Purdue Fort Wayne guard Jarred Godfrey (1) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Nick Blair (20) lays in the ball past Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34, right) rejects a shot by Purdue Fort Wayne guard Jarred Godfrey (1) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3, right) elevates for a shot against Purdue Fort Wayne guard Tionne Rollins (5) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Hey Reb shoots off some pyrotechnics as the UNLV Rebels are set to take on Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34) goes up for another dunk over Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels fans do their best to distract Purdue Fort Wayne forward Dylan Carl (11) while shooting foul throws during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) gets off a shot above defense by UNLV Rebels forward Donnie Tillman (2) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34) celebrates a dunk over Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels head coach T.J. Otzelberger directs his players versus Purdue Fort Wayne during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) looks to shoot past Purdue Fort Wayne forward Matt Holba (13) during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels players huddle after a foul call versus Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Elijah Mitrou-Long (55, center) attempts to drive the lane between Purdue Fort Wayne forward Dylan Carl (11, left) and guard Deonte Billups (15, right) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

The Rebel Girls & Company perform as the UNLV Rebels battle Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13) looks to get off a shot over Purdue Fort Wayne guard Brian Patrick (2) during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels head coach T.J. Otzelberger adjust his collar versus Purdue Fort Wayne during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) slides between Purdue Fort Wayne defenders for a basket during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (34) catches a referee after running out of bounds to chase a ball versus Purdue Fort Wayne during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) elevates for a three-point basket over Purdue Fort Wayne forward Dylan Carl (11) during the first half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

UNLV Rebels head coach T.J. Otzelberger is a bit dismayed versus Purdue Fort Wayne during the second half of their NCAA game in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Ten minutes was all UNLV needed Tuesday night to find itself.
The Rebels took charge after that, taking a 16-point lead at halftime and going on to beat Purdue-Fort Wayne 86-71 before about 4,000 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center in the first game under coach T.J. Otzelberger.
UNLV used a 25-4 run late in the first half to go up 39-21 before the Mastodons made a basket shortly before intermission.
“I was pleased with our guys in how they came out and prepared for this game,” Otzelberger said. “Once it’s for real, it’s for real. I think our guys established in that first half who we can be defensively when we pressure the basketball, when we really guard and contest the 3-point line — they were 1-for-14 at half — and do a great job on the glass.”
Mbacke Diong and Jonah Antonio led the way for UNLV with 17 points apiece. Diong also led the Rebels in rebounding with 17.
Here are three takeaways from the Rebels’ victory:
1. Taking care of business.
The Rebels entered the game as 11½-point favorites, and they didn’t play down to their competition. This isn’t a victory many will remember in February, but it’s important to establish the mindset of approaching each opponent with the same level of intensity.
Not that it was completely smooth. UNLV looked sloppy at times. The Rebels needed time in both halves to exert their dominance — Fort Wayne even got to within 60-51 with more than 10 minutes remaining.
But exert that dominance the Rebels did, underscored by their 43-19 rebounding advantage.
2. Spreading the scoring.
Antonio made 4 of 5 3-pointers in the first half and had 12 points, his shooting a big key to the Rebels’ early lead. But if this game showed anything, it’s that scoring for this team can come from just about anywhere.
Five players finished in double figures for UNLV, which made 51.9 percent of its shots.
“I’m putting our starting five up against any starting five in the country,” Antonio said. “I believe in those boys. … We have really five threats on the floor at all times. It makes for a dangerous team on the offensive end.”
3. Getting more serious.
Otzelberger and his players can take plenty from this game, but the next three will be more telling.
UNLV hosts Kansas State at 1 p.m. Saturday and then travels to California and UCLA next week for a pair of 8 p.m. tipoffs. All three teams have their own issues to sort through, but they are Power Five programs.
“Although we have a lot of respect for our opponents, we invest our time in us getting better,” Otzelberger said. “There’s not a ton of time preparing as much as us continuing to improve. We know we’ve got a stretch here of some really good teams. Kansas State is the only one that really matters right now because they’re the one coming up on Saturday.
“They’ve been at the top of the Big 12 Conference … which I think is one of the best, if not best, leagues in the country. … We’ve got to get back to the practice floor. We’ve got to be competitive and fight. It’s going to be a really tough game come Saturday.”
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Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.