LAS
VEGAS -- No. 21 UNLV flexed its muscles Monday as it topped ULM 81-63 in men's
basketball action inside the Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin' Rebels (12-2)
forced 19 turnovers and shot a blistering 58.1 percent from the field to earn
its third consecutive victory.
The
Warhawks (1-11) played a ranked opponent tough for the third time this season
and kept it close in the first half before UNLV surged ahead in the second
half. ULM finished the game shooting 45.1 percent from the field, including
6-of-16 from 3-point range.
Sophomore
center Steven McClellan scored a career-high 16 points to go with seven
rebounds to lead four Warhawks in double-digit scoring. Senior Hugh Mingo
contributed 15 points and freshman Trent Mackey tied his career high with 13
points. Senior Fred Brown went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line and finished
with 12 points, six rebounds and four steals.
ULM
outrebounded its opponent for the third straight game with an impressive 32-22
advantage on the boards against UNLV. The Runnin' Rebels came into the game
with a +5.5 rebounding margin.
The
Runnin' Rebels put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run to start the second
half. Mike Moser capped the run with a basket in transition to give UNLV a
48-27 advantage with 16:00 remaining in the game. UNLV built its lead to as
many as 29 with 7:15 remaining before ULM rallied in the final minutes.
UNLV's
Chace Stanback scored a career-high and game-high 29 points, including an 8-of-9
effort from 3-point range. Stanback finished 10 of 13 from the field in 32
minutes of action. Carlos Lopez tallied 12 points and nine rebounds off the
bench and Oscar Bellfield finished with 10 points for the Runnin' Rebels.
The
Warhawks never led in the game, but put up a valiant effort in the first half.
Mingo came off the bench and gave ULM a spark to keep the game close in the
first half. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Warhawks as close as 25-23
with 5:15 remaining in the opening half.
Stanback
hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to spearhead six straight points for the
Rebels. Stanback hit another 3-pointer and Lopez added a dunk to give UNLV its
largest lead of the first half (37-26) with 1:25 remaining.
ULM
wraps up a two-game road trip Wednesday at Indiana State at 6:05 p.m. CT.
Indiana State defeated ULM 71-59 back on Nov. 14 in Monroe.
