LAS VEGAS—UNLV scored on nine of its first 10 possessions, knocked down 18 of 32 three-point attempts and never gave South Dakota a chance in a 103-68 romp inside the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday. The win ended a two-game skid for the Runnin' Rebels who improved to 9-4.
Eight UNLV players hit from beyond the arc including Ike Nwamu and Jerome Seagears who made four each. Jalen Poyser made three triples and led all scorers with 18 points. Nwamu had 16 and Seagears 12.
Six different Rebels scored in double figures. UNLV shot 58 percent from the field (36 of 62) and out-rebounded the Coyotes 35-25. UNLV effectively used a full-court press to force 19 turnovers.
Casey Kasperbauer made 4 of 7 from three-point range and led South Dakota (7-6) with 16 points. The Coyotes made 9 of 18 triples and shot 46 percent from the field (24 of 52).
Tre Burnette scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
UNLV led 15-2 less than four minutes into the game behind three straight 3's from Seagears, who had made 10 of 38 for 26 percent entering the contest. The Rebels were averaging six 3's per game and making them at a 32 percent clip before Saturday's game.
Nwamu had 14 points in the opening stanza including a last-second 3 that gave UNLV a 51-34 edge at halftime. Poyser had 10 points by the break. UNLV made 9 of 15 from long range in the first half.
Burnette scored seven quick points and a layup by
Shy McClelland pulled USD within 13 points at 56-43 three minutes into the second half. Following a timeout, UNLV answered with a 15-3 run that pushed the lead to 71-46 with 12:29 remaining. The rout was on from there.
Of note was the first appearance in two years for South Dakota junior forward
Tyler Flack, who missed all of last season due to injury. Flack played 12 minutes Saturday and recorded four rebounds and two blocks. Flack started 27 of 30 games for the Coyotes during the 2013-14 season.
USD wraps up 2015 and its four-game road trip with a game against Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. Monday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Coyotes begin Summit League play at home against IUPUI on New Year's Day.
