As underdogs, UNLV picked up its biggest win of the season so far on Sunday, taking down the Memphis Tigers 92-78 in Memphis and handing the Tigers their worst home loss of the Penny Hardaway Era.
The Rebels controlled the game from start to finish. UNLV started the game by hitting six of its first seven shots. This gave the Rebels a big 27-13 lead, and they built on that with a 49-36 advantage at halftime.
Guards Howie Fleming Jr. and Issac Williamson had big-time performances, both finishing with
25 points. Fleming had 12 rebounds on 56.3% shooting, while Williamson had five steals and was 60% from deep. He made six of UNLV’s seven threes.
Forward Kimani Hamilton dropped 13 points and seven rebounds with six assists. Forward Tyrin Jones was solid on the glass, hauling in five boards and dropping 14 points.
The Rebels as a squad shot 50% from the field and controlled the glass, out-rebounding Memphis 36-32. The defense for UNLV was great on the perimeter, holding Memphis to only 23.5% from three.
Memphis attempted to come back in the second half when the Tigers went on an 18-5 run that cut the deficit to 82-74, but it was too little too late. Williamson hit a three-pointer to end that run and kill any hopes of a Memphis victory.
Star guard Dug McDaniel was surprisingly quiet for Memphis. In 32 minutes of play, he dropped six points on a highly inefficient 10% shooting. He also turned the ball over six times, a game he will want to forget.
Guard Julius Thedford tried to pick up the slack from McDaniels’ performance, dropping 16 points on six rebounds. Guard Curtis Givens II added ten points, but there was no consistent offensive production outside of the 18-5 run.
UNLV head coach Josh Pastner was the coach of Memphis from 2009 to 2016, and he showed them who’s boss. UNLV dismantled his former program and gave UNLV a much-needed win for a team that didn’t want to start the season 1-3.
After picking up this massive upset, the Rebels head back home to take on Saint Joseph’s on Thursday, Nov. 20.
