UNLV pulls away for 91-76 win over Eastern Washington
By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal
UNLV Rebels forward Anthony Smith (2) gets set to drive to the basket against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) moves the ball against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV cheerleaders look up as UNLV Rebels guard Jordan Johnson (24) hands the ball over after fouling against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Jovan Mooring (30) draws a foul on Eastern Washington Eagles guard Bogdan Bliznyuk (32) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Cheickna Dembele (11) grabs a rebound against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) walks off the court after their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
Hey Reb and fans do their "shark chomp" during their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) drives to the basket against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Jovan Mooring (30) does a little leap after scoring on Eastern Washington during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) greets fans after their game against Eastern Washington Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Kris Clyburn (1) drives between Eastern Washington Eagles guard Jacob Davison (10) andEastern Washington Eagles guard Jack Perry (11) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
Eastern Washington Eagles forward Mason Peatling (14) fouls UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) tips away a shot by Eastern Washington Eagles guard Bogdan Bliznyuk (32) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels head coach Marvin Menzes talks with UNLV Rebels forward Shakur Juiston (10) during their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Amauri Hardy (3) has the ball knocked away by Eastern Washington Eagles forward Jesse Hunt (34) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Brandon McCoy (44) knocks the ball away from Eastern Washington Eagles forward Mason Peatling (14) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels forward Anthony Smith (2) grabs a rebound from Eastern Washington Eagles forward Jesse Hunt (34) during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
The UNLV dance team performs during their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Jordan Johnson (24) dishes off a pass under the basket during their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
UNLV Rebels guard Kris Clyburn (1) drives to the basket against the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won the game 91-76. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
If Eastern Washington was the first real test of the season for the UNLV basketball team, the Rebels aced the exam.
UNLV clamped down on defense in the second half and pulled away for a 91-76 victory on Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Rebels (3-0) held Eastern Washington (2-2) to 29 percent shooting in the second half and junior Kris Clyburn broke out with 19 points after totaling seven in the first two games.
Shakur Juiston had another strong game for UNLV with 13 points, 18 rebounds and six assists. Brandon McCoy added 17 points and eight rebounds
The Eagles, coming off a victory at Stanford, shot 3-for-14 on 3-pointers.
After trailing for most of the first half, UNLV used an 11-2 run late in the half to take a 45-39 lead at intermission.
Amauri Hardy capped the run with a long buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
The Rebels led by as many as 25 points in the final minutes.
UNLV will play away from the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time Monday when it meets Rice in the MGM Resorts Main Event at T-Mobile Arena.
