Game day: Can UNLV beat Boise State to snap losing streak?

UNLV's Julian Rishwain (20) plays during the second half against Dayton, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Dayton, Ohio. Photo by Jeff Dean / AP

UNLV returns home bruised and battered following a road trip that saw the Scarlet and Gray drop consecutive games at Utah State and UNR, and the schedule doesn’t lighten up as conference contender Boise State visits the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

Kevin Kruger’s squad has now lost four straight and is on the verge of falling below .500 with another defeat. Can UNLV pull off an upset and stay above water?

Three keys to watch:

Stronger start

UNLV’s campaign began taking a downward turn on Jan. 7, when Boise State clobbered them, 81-59. The Scarlet and Gray came out flat and were overwhelmed by Boise’s physicality; the Broncos beat them up and built a 19-point lead at the half in what was perhaps UNLV’s biggest beatdown of the season.

Win or lose, that can’t happen this time around.

“Up there, we were just on our heels the entire game,” Kruger said. “They came out and threw punches and we’ve just got to be ready for it this time.”

Senior wing Julian Rishwain said the loss at Boise State was a case of UNLV getting humbled by a true contender after opening Mountain West play 3-0 against the dregs of the league.

“I think we thought we were better than we were, and we got hit,” Rishwain said. “Maybe just be ready to take that hit [on Tuesday].”

Sophomore point guard D.J. Thomas has been saying for weeks that his team has to show more fight, especially early in games. It’s going to be difficult to generate that energy at the Mack, where attendance has plummeted of late, but UNLV is going to have to create it somehow.

Rishwain keeps shooting

Rishwain has been one of UNLV’s most reliable outside shooters this year, but a recent slump has dragged down his season-long percentages.

After making at least one 3-pointer in each of the first 15 games, the last seven contests have seen Rishwain post two 0-fers, and in the two most recent games he shot 2-of-10 and 2-of-8 from deep. He is now at 36.2% on 3-pointers for the season and 30.1% in conference play.

The sixth-year veteran is trying not to let his recent misfires affect his play.

“Just keep my mind right is all I can do,” Rishwain said. “Not to think about it too much; whenever you start thinking about it, that’s probably when it goes bad for you.”

As UNLV’s most prolific shooter — he attempts more than a halfdozen 3-pointers per game, by far the most on the team — Rishwain has a responsibility to keep pulling the trigger in order to keep defenses honest.

He is confident he’ll start connecting again.

“Just keep shooting,” Rishwain said. “My coaches give me all the confidence keeping me in there, and my teammates too. They’re all trying to look for me and they’re going to come to me at the end when we need to hit a late 3.”

Defense key to turnaround

UNLV has struggled to get late stops, especially during the current four-game losing streak. Saturday’s game at Reno was tied, 60-60, until UNR scored on five of its last six possessions to pull away for a 71-65 victory.

Junior center Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry believes he and his teammates can do better. He wants to see UNLV really commit to the defensive and win games by getting key stops.

“Defense,” Cherry said. “I think that’s what it is. If you’ve got defense — you’re going to score eventually, so I think we’ve just got to keep working on defense. Once we get the defensive side going we’re going to rip a few games straight.”

Team leaders

UNLV (11-11, 5-6 MWC)

Scoring

D.J. Thomas: 16.0 points

Rebounds

Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry: 5.3 rebounds

Assists

D.J. Thomas: 4.7 assists

Boise State (15-7, 7-4 MWC)

Scoring

Tyson Degenhart: 17.7 points

Rebounds

Tyson Degenhart: 6.0 rebounds

Assists

Alvaro Cardenas: 6.8 assists

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