Rebels Stumble at Viejas Arena, Aztecs Secure Home Victory
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels faced a challenging contest against the San Diego State Aztecs, culminating in a 61-72 defeat. The Rebels now stand with an additional loss to their record, while the Aztecs celebrate another victory. The game unfolded at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl in San Diego, where both teams battled fiercely through two halves of play.
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels started off trailing with only 25 points in the first half compared to the home team's 35. Despite a stronger second-half performance scoring 36 points, it was not enough to close the gap created by the Aztecs' consistent offense which added another 37 points after halftime. The Rebels showcased resilience and determination but ultimately fell short against their opponents.
The statistics reveal areas where UNLV excelled and struggled throughout this encounter. They managed to convert 54 percent of their two-point attempts and scored a total of 28 points in the paint matching that of San Diego State. However, they were less successful from beyond the arc with only a 27 percent success rate from three-point range compared to SDSU's slightly better mark of 31 percent.
UNLV's defense was active on court as evidenced by their seven steals and three blocks; however, they also committed a high number of personal fouls totaling at twenty-four which contributed to SDSU's free throw opportunities where they capitalized with an impressive free throw percentage of seventy-seven.
Offensively for UNLV, ball movement resulted in ten assists but was overshadowed by fourteen turnovers which allowed San Diego State to score nineteen points off those turnovers. Rebounding was another area where UNLV struggled; they were outrebounded by ten boards overall including being edged out on offensive rebounds nine to ten.
Despite these challenges, there were bright spots for UNLV including securing eleven second-chance points and maintaining an assists turnover ratio just under one (0.83). Their effort remained relentless until the final buzzer sounded marking an end to this conference game without any lead changes or ties throughout its duration.
Looking ahead for fans of the Runnin' Rebels is their next game scheduled against New Mexico Lobos on January 9th at Thomas & Mack Center located in Las Vegas NV USA zip code:89119 broadcasted nationally on Fox Sports channel:219 starting at approximately eight-thirty PM local time (Pacific). This upcoming matchup will provide another opportunity for redemption as they continue through their season schedule.