UNLV Runnin’ Rebels warm up for a game against the Utah State Aggies at the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.
Published Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 | 7 p.m.
Updated 1 minute ago
Offense has been hard to come by so far, and if you saw any of Monday’s game between these two teams that isn’t so hard to believe. With 11:20 remaining in the first half, UNLV has a 14-11 lead over Utah State.
UNLV would be in an early hole if it weren’t for Moses Wood, who got his second straight start tonight. He has nailed a couple 3’s already (one of them a 4-point play), recorded a steal and blocked a shot, and his seven points are the most for either team.
Turnovers have been an issue for the scarlet and gray, as they’ve given away the ball four times in 13 possessions, but the defense has been solid once again. Utah State has made just 4-of-14 from the field (28.6 percent).
UNLV basketball going for sixth straight win
Can UNLV add to its current five-game winning streak with another victory over Utah State tonight (8 p.m., FS1)?
The scarlet and gray pulled off an impressive upset over USU on Monday, 59-56, and tonight’s return matchup figures to be another grinder.
Three keys to watch:
Wing start
UNLV was able to survive and pull out a win on Monday despite its two top scorers, wings Bryce Hamilton and David Jenkins, combining to shoot just 8-of-29 from the field. It wasn’t all their fault — easy baskets are nonexistent against Utah State due to the presence of shot-blocking center Neemias Queta, so Hamilton and Jenkins had to earn their points via tough shots.
If Hamilton and Jenkins can connect at a higher rate tonight, that will at least give UNLV a bigger margin for error at the other end of the court.
Defensive adjustments
Utah State is likely to tweak its offensive sets after UNLV held them to 32.8 percent shooting in the first meeting, including a 6-of-28 showing in the second half. It will be up to head coach T.J. Otzelberger to anticipate those adjustments and have UNLV ready to defend against them.
Fortunately for the scarlet and gray, Otzelberger is very familiar with Utah State coach Craig Smith, as the two coached against each other previously in the Summit League. Otzelberger is now 2-1 against Smith in the Mountain West, so it looks like UNLV will be in good hands in tonight’s rematch.
Stick with Blake
Freshman Nick Blake made two big mistakes in trying to close out Utah State on Monday. Despite those high-profile miscues, UNLV can’t afford to let Blake sulk because he is an integral part of the team’s game plan.
Blake posted a plus/minus of +9 in Game 1, scoring eight points in 25 minutes. UNLV will need him to bounce back from the errors and produce like a future star again.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
