UNLV Could Have Used Freddie Banks’ Shooting Touch In 22-Point Loss To UCLA Saturday
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Well, the competition sure got more challenging the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team Saturday afternoon at Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV wiped out 1,800-student Division III Whitter College on Wednesday, but Saturday’s foe was another California school — UCLA.
UNLV didn’t fare well against the number two-ranked Bruins, a team that was likely not in a very good mood this week after getting trounced by 20 points by an excellent Gonzaga squad at T-Mobile Arena earlier this week.
The final: UCLA 73 UNLV 51
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The day was not without smiles for UNLV fans, though.
The university raised Freddie Banks’ jersey to the rafters. Banks was a key player on UNLV’s 37-2 team that made the 1987 Final Four. He averaged 19.5 points a game, playing with other former UNLV stars like Armen Gilliam and Gerald Paddio.
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As for the game itself, UNLV could have used Banks’ three-point shooting skills.
UCLA jumped on the The Runnin’ Rebels for a quick double-digit lead at 14-2.
UNLV hustled their way back into the game, as the small crowd made some noise and came to their feet as the Rebels cut the Bruins’ lead to 24-20.
But UNLV’s cold shooting undermined their comeback. The Rebs scored only 22 points in the first half and trailed by 15.
That obviously was not the result that we wanted, but also probably not the fight that we expected. I feel bad for the guys as we didn’t play like we practiced. We just seemed a little hesitant and put ourselves in a hole early and you could see the confidence that they had and they were playing with. I think we started to press a little bit and even though we had some moments where we really did fight and compete, even right out of the half to cut it to nine, we just couldn’t sustain it. UCLA is really good. They do a really good job of talking. They’re in the right spots, they take those challenges in guarding the ball, and they make you earn your points. This will be a really good opportunity for us to break down the film with the guys and show them what did work because I think we’re capable of playing a lot better and being stubborn in getting better looks. Again, that’s a tried and true established program and they just made it tough for us today. — UNLV coach Kevin Kruger
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UNLV cut the deficit to nine in the second half, but never made a serious run. Rebels swingman Bryce Hamilton led the team with 15 points, while Donovan Williams added a dozen.
UCLA has an NBA-quality player in Johnny Juzang, who scored 12. Jules Bernard let UCLA with 18.
UNLV dropped to 4-3 and will lose more if the Rebs don’t improve their shoorting. UNLV was 17 for 56, or 30 percent. The UNLV shots from three-point land were off the mark to the tune of six for 27, a miserable 22 percent.
It was a light crowd. Not too many UNLV students. And not too many UNLV Bruins fans either.
