LAS VEGAS – Rallying back from down by as much as 15, Fresno State got to within one in the second half before falling 78-69 on Tuesday night at Thomas & Mack Center.
Enoch Boakye led the Bulldogs on the night, recording his second straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. UNLV was paced by Kalib Boone's 21 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Going down 7-0 in the first two minutes after three turnovers, Fresno State called a timeout to regroup. Following six turnovers on their first seven possessions, Isaiah Hill got the 'Dogs on the board with an and-one with 16:05 on the clock to end UNLV's run at 10.
UNLV built its lead up to 15 midway through the half at 20-5 as the Bulldogs struggled to find their footing in the game, turning the ball over nine times.
Back-to-back 3's from Leo Colimerio and Isaiah Pope got the deficit into single digits (27-19) with 3:59 on the clock but Jackie Johnson III answered at the other end to put UNLV back up 11. With two minutes remaining and the Runnin' Rebels leading by 13, Pope's second 3-pointer of the half started a 7-0 run.
A triple from UNLV's Keylan Boone with 19 seconds on the clock made it a 37-28 game heading into the locker room.
Five minutes into the second, a slip to the bucket and dunk from Eduardo Andre brought some energy to the 'Dogs. With just over 14 minutes on the clock, back-to-back steals led to six points in 11 seconds from Xavier DuSell to pull Fresno State within three. The 8-0 spurt forced UNLV to call a timeout with the Bulldogs' deficit at its lowest since the opening minutes of the game.
With just over 11 minutes to play and the 'Dogs trailing by five, a flagrant 2 on Johnson III turned into a four-point possession for Fresno State.
UNLV responded with eight unanswered points over the next four minutes. DuSell ended the drought with a triple from the top of the key. Fresno State got within two possessions multiple times but on each occasion, UNLV had an answer.
NOTES
Fresno State dropped its 10th game of the season when trailing at the half.
Fresno State lost just its second game of the year when at least four Bulldogs scored in double figures.
Fresno State shot over 50 percent for the third straight game (51.1%).
Enoch Boakye (16) and Isaiah Hill (12) each reached double figures in scoring for the third straight game.
Boakye recorded his third double-double in the last five games with (16) points and (10) rebounds.
Boakye posted a career-high five blocks and three steals.
Xavier DuSell registered his 12th game in double figures with 14 points.
Isaiah Pope totaled 15 points, his eighth game in double figures in the last 11 games.
Hill dished out nine assists, his fourth game in the last five with at least nine assists.
UP NEXT
Fresno State returns home on Saturday to host Colorado State at the Save Mart Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and will air on CBS Sports Network.