Energy abounds as UNLV basketball overwhelms Air Force

UNLV Rebels guard Jaden Henley (10) shoots a layup against Air Force Falcons forward Caleb Walker (10) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by Steve Marcus

Air Force is not a good basketball team. The Falcons have won just three times this season, and one of those victories came over a non-Division I opponent. In Mountain West play, they are still looking for their first W.

That said, UNLV did what it was supposed to do against such a lowly opponent, dropping Air Force, 77-52, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

It was a far cry from last year’s meeting between the teams in Las Vegas. In that contest, UNLV came out unimaginably flat and Air Force handed the listless Scarlet and Gray their worst defeat in years, 90-58.

This time around, Kevin Kruger’s squad was ready. The intensity level was noticeable in the opening minutes as UNLV quickly built a double-digit lead and never relented.

Junior center Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry attributed the noticeable uptick in energy to a pregame pump-up session.

“Before we ran out, we were in the locker room and we were just playing music and trying to get our intensity up before we ran out,” Cherry said. “When we ran out it showed in how we played.”

Cherry proved unstoppable, making all six of his shot attempts to tally a team-high 15 points. Four other UNLV players finished in double figures, though Cherry said most of the team’s focus was on the other end of the court.

UNLV held Air force to 30.8% from the field in the first half and went into the break with an insurmountable 44-22 lead.

“We were really trying to start it on defense and just get stops,” Cherry said. “The offense will eventually come.”

The Scarlet and Gray hustled and pounced on unclaimed balls, forcing 11 turnovers and collecting 25 defensive rebounds.

“The guys did a great job from the start of setting the tone and making things difficult [for Air Force],” Kruger said. “A lot of deflections. The energy level was there.”

UNLV maintained its spark throughout the second half, never allowing Air Force to get closer than 18 points.

One second-half sequence saw Cherry score on three straight possessions, including an and-1 finish through contact to put the game to bed.

The 6-foot-11, 280-pounder said assistant coach Jamaal Williams has been working with him to establish post position earlier in possessions, which allows Cherry to catch the ball closer to the basket and make his moves before the defense is set.

“Sealing early was helping me get the ball and get easy buckets,” he said.

Sophomore point guard D.J. Thomas had a relatively quiet game with seven points but he did record five assists, including a pair of feeds that led to Cherry dunks. Senior wing Julian Rishwain hit a pair of 3-pointers and totaled 13 points. Senior Jailen Bedford, junior Jaden Henley and sophomore Brooklyn Hicks scored 11 apiece.

After taking care of business against Air Force, UNLV is back above .500 on the season (13-12 overall) and even in Mountain West play (7-7).

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