UNLV Men’s Basketball Upsets No. 22 Utah State

The Utah State Aggies have had an impressive season this year. Coming into January 15th, they were undefeated in Mountain West play and 16-1 overall. The Rebels, on the other hand, have struggled, entering the game with a 3-2 conference record and 9-7 overall.

This victory was particularly significant as it marked UNLV’s first win against a ranked team this season and their eighth win in their last 12 games versus ranked opponents. The contest was a back-and-forth affair, featuring eight lead changes and ties throughout. The likely March Madness-bound Aggies played an inefficient game, which I believe led to their upset in Las Vegas.

Turnover Troubles

The Aggies struggled to maintain possession, committing 12 turnovers. This gave UNLV more scoring opportunities. While Utah State hasn’t been careless with the ball for most of the season, their performance at the Thomas & Mack Center demonstrated how turnovers can significantly impact their chances of winning.

UNLV’s Defensive Prowess

The Runnin’ Rebels ranked 150th nationally in defense, were expected to struggle against the Aggies’ 39th-ranked offense. However, Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry and his teammates put on a defensive clinic. UNLV recorded 4 blocks, 5 steals, and forced 12 Utah State turnovers, contributing significantly to their victory against the 22nd-best team in the nation.

The Rebel’s Clutch Play

The Rebels dominated in the paint all night, outscoring the Aggies 36-20. While their three-point shooting wasn’t exceptional, their strong inside presence created scoring opportunities and put pressure on the Utah State defense. When the game was within reach, UNLV mounted a comeback to secure the win. Julian Rishwain contributed 13 points, including four 3-pointers, while Jalen Hill added 15 points and 8 rebounds. In the crucial moments, the Rebels’ offense sparked a 7-0 run, Guard Dedan Thomas Jr. hit a layup and game sealing 2-point shot to win it for the Rebels. Along with that the Rebels defense was also a huge factor. Utah State was up seven points with 5:25 left to go, and from that point on the Utah State Offense only hit 1 of their last 10 shots.

3 Stars of the Game

The 1st Star of the game is UNLV Forward Jalen Hill. Jalen scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%) in the win over the Aggies, while being a dominant paint presence grabbing a team-high 8 rebounds and recording 1 block.

The 2nd Star of the game is UNLV Guard Dedan Thomas Jr. Dedan scored 8 points on 3-of-14 shooting. While not his most efficient night, thomas Jr. made crucial plays in the final moments, including a fast-break layup and a game-sealing fadeaway jumper with 18 seconds remaining to help the Rebels secure a 65-62 upset victory over No. 22 Utah State. He also contributed a game-high six assists and zero turnovers, demonstrating his impact beyond scoring.

The 3rd Star of the game is Utah State Forward Tucker Anderson. Tucker scored 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting (50%), including a stellar 4-of-8 performance from the three. His efficient shooting and clutch perimeter play were on display but not enough for his team to win.

End of Rant

What a game! Games like this are on the horizon because March is almost here! Which means even more upsets are to come like this one. This upset victory showcased UNLV’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure while highlighting areas where Utah State needs to improve to maintain its strong season performance.