By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The world might seem upside-down as a novel coronavirus pandemic rages on and to add to these surreal times that college basketball power known as the Montana State Bobcats came to Thomas & Mack Center and embarrassed the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Eve.
It was the first game of the second season for UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger, who donned a mask like everyone else in the empty 16,000-seat gym and watched his Rebels play a sloppy, disjointed game as UNLV pumped in fake crowd noise to give the joint some “atmosphere.”
Montana State, coming off a 16-15 record last season, led 49-31 at halftime and UNLV never made the game a competitive match in the second half. Final score: Montana State 91 UNLV 78.
“Our effort was not good enough,” Otzelberger told the game’s radio broadcasters after the game. UNLV’s lack of effort was reminiscent of a lackluster loss to Pacific last season — a loss that upset Otzelberger so much he benched several starters the following game.
Our effort, energy and competitive spirit wasn’t where it needed to be. We talked a lot about generating our own energy without fans and a crowd in the gym. We didn’t do a great job of that tonight and it is something we are going to continue to work on and drive home because we have to be a lot better than we were from an effort and competitive standpoint from start to finish. — UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger
There were no fans in the arena because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and Las Vegas’ high infection rates. The Mack’s main concourse was dark and silent. Media were allowed, but plexiglass partitions separated the sports writers in section 105. Photographers were not allowed on the court floor, but did roam the empty stands for their pictures and video.
UNLV arena ops piped in fake crowd noise, which seemed bizarre and disorienting with no actual fans in the building. They staged the fiery, explosive firecracker show during Runnin’ Rebels player intros.
UNLV players who were not playing sat in seats that were spaced about three feet apart and were away from the court.
The Runnin’ Rebels had higher aspirations than Wednesday’s performance. The team under Otzelberger finished tied for second place in the Mountain West in his rookie season in Las Vegas. But the team played in a disorganized manner to Montana State.
UNLV had an entirely new look this unusual year as 10 of its 13 scholarship players have yet to play in a game for the Runnin’ Rebels.
Returners include senior forward Mbacke Diong, and junior guards Marvin Coleman and Bryce Hamilton, the team’s top scorer at 16 points a game. Hamilton finished with 27 points tonight to lead UNLV.
Other returners from last year’s roster included junior transfer guard David Jenkins Jr., sophomore transfer forward Moses Wood, and walk-on junior guard Trey Hurlburt. Of the nine newcomers added to this year’s roster, seven are freshmen.