Game day: UNLV gets off the mat to host first-place New Mexico

3 months ago 17

UNLV vs Wyoming

UNLV Rebels guard D.J. Thomas (11) shoots over Wyoming Cowboys guard Obi Agbim (5) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Photo by Steve Marcus

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 | 2 a.m.

UNLV suffered its worst defeat of the season on Tuesday, but in the Mountain West there is no time to dwell on such things — not with first-place New Mexico coming to town for a Saturday matinee at the Thomas & Mack Center (12 p.m., FOX).

Three keys to watch:

Get over it

As painful as the loss to Wyoming was, the Scarlet and Gray must move on.

Kruger gave the players Wednesday off with instructions to get away from basketball and put the game behind them. That was followed by Thursday and Friday practices that Kruger and D.J. Thomas described as high-intensity.

“I think a day off was good for us,” Kruger said. “Hopefully that day off was maximized by everybody.”

When UNLV takes the floor on Saturday, that loss must be completely forgotten because New Mexico is a first-place opponent and anything less than 100% focus will result in another defeat.

Thomas said there was “a lot of anger” following the Wyoming game, but the team channeled it into practice and hopes to carry that energy into Saturday’s contest.

“We feel like that game was probably our worst game of the season as far as defense and togetherness and energy,” Thomas said. “We had no juice, no type of fire, no type of fight. But we’ve got to forget about that game and focus on the next one.”

D.J. vs. Dent

All eyes will be on the point guard matchup on Saturday, as Thomas squares off against UNM junior Donovan Dent.

Dent is currently the frontrunner for Mountain West Player of the Year. He’s leading the conference in scoring (18.9 points per game) and assists (6.9) and has the Lobos atop the standings at 8-1 (16-4 overall). Thomas won both head-to-head battles last year, however, and this could be another epic.

After Friday’s practice, Thomas said he is embracing the marquee matchup.

“I feel like we’re the two best guards in this conference, so I’m looking forward to it,” Thomas said.

Keep up

New Mexico presents a difficult stylistic matchup, possessing one of the nation’s most up-tempo offenses. KenPom ranks the Lobos No. 8 in adjusted tempo, and they are the No. 26 scoring team in the nation at 81.8 points per game.

Kruger stressed the importance of not getting sucked into the kind of wide-open, up-and-down game New Mexico wants to play.

“One thing we can control is getting back and getting set,” Kruger said. “But they do such a good job of having so many guys that can start a break and that can make decisions. While Dent is of course the headliner, they’ve got a lot of guys that can make really good decisions, really good plays in transition.”

Team leaders

UNLV (11-8, 5-3 MWC)

Scoring

D.J. Thomas: 15.8 points

Rebounds

Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry: 5.5 rebounds

Assists

D.J. Thomas: 4.5 assists

New Mexico (16-4, 8-1 MWC)

Scoring

Donovan Dent: 18.9 points

Rebounds