D.J. Thomas scores 18 as UNLV snaps losing streak

UNLV Rebels guard D.J. Thomas (11) takes the ball upcourt during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against the UC Riverside Highlanders at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Photo by Steve Marcus

LARAMIE, Wyo. — After UNLV put away Wyoming, 68-57, to snap a five-game losing streak, it was hard not to notice the smile on D.J. Thomas’s face.

Speaking outside a victorious locker room, the sophomore point guard was in good spirits as he explained the very simple deciding factor in the win.

“We were tired of losing,” Thomas said. “We’re just putting stuff in the past, like those past five games. It’s a bad stretch of games, but we put that behind us and we’re ready to move forward.”

Thomas certainly played like he was tired of losing, scoring 18 points and handing out three assists as UNLV found its way back into the W column for the first time since Jan. 18.

With time running out in the first half, Thomas drove and used a nifty up-and-under move to score before the buzzer, sending UNLV into the break with a 30-23 lead. The advantage expanded to double digits for most of the second half, and any time Wyoming threatened to make a contest of it Thomas was there to deny the Cowboys.

Three times in the second half Wyoming scored to get within single digits, only for Thomas to score on the ensuing possession to get it back to a 10-plus margin. Thomas then closed the door for good not by scoring, but by assisting on the biggest basket of the day.

Coming out of a timeout with four minutes to play, UNLV led 57-47 and was looking for the decisive blow. Kevin Kruger drew up a play that called for Thomas to collapse the defense before making a play and that’s exactly what he did, driving into the paint and whipping a pass back to the top of the key. Senior guard Jailen Bedford received it and stuck a wide-open 3-pointer to seal the win.

“Double drag screen,” Thomas said. “Coach told me to come off of it and make a play. I saw Jailen Bedford open and I hit him. I trust him to make that 3 because he’s a really great shooter, and he knocked it down. That was huge.”

Kruger credited Thomas for perfect execution.

“He did a great job of getting downhill,” Kruger said. “Taking care of the ball, driving strong. Obviously the play of the game, in my opinion, is that pull-pass he threw to Bedford out of the timeout for 3. Wyoming does a really good job of collapsing and making it tough to make those passes. The pass was perfect.

“When you’re on the road, you’ve got a 10, 11-point lead, six or seven minutes, it can get real tight,” he continued. “Shots get tighter, crowd gets louder, home team usually gets a little more juice, so to make those plays at that time was probably what ended up keeping that distance.”

UNLV is back to .500 on the season at 12-12 overall and 6-7 in Mountain West play. Though the losing streak took a toll on the locker room, with five games remaining there is still time for the Scarlet and Gray to make a run at a MWC tournament bye, however remote the odds.

With games vs. Air Force (Tuesday) and at Fresno State (Feb. 15) next on the schedule, there is a window for UNLV to build momentum.

When asked what Saturday’s win can do for UNLV, Kruger said he believes his team is poised to take advantage.

“Hopefully it gets our confidence going,” he said.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.