Henderson, NV – The Jack Jones Classic wrapped up with the eighth-ranked Creighton Blue Jays taking on the UNLV Rebels. Despite entering the game as 13-point underdogs, UNLV, upset Creighton 79-64, improving to .500 with a 4-4 record. Creighton fell to 8-2.
The Blue Jays opened the game with an 8-2 run where it looked like the game was going to get away from the Rebels quickly. They would respond with a 7-0 run of their own and would be tied 13 all at the first media timeout. UNLV would use their momentum to build an eight-point lead at half, leading 36-28.
A big reason why UNLV played so well was because of 6’9”, 215 lbs. fifth year senior Kalib Boone. On paper, it would seem Creighton would have the advantage with starting center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is 7’1” and 270 lbs. However, Boone would take advantage of Kalkbrenner’s slow feet, was able to move around him with ease for layups, up-and-under shots and some spin moves, or to create for teammates. The two players would each have eight points at the half, with Boone scoring all his points from the floor, while Kalkbrenner had a mixture from the floor and the free-throw line.
The star of the first half for the Runnin’ Rebels was freshman guard and Las Vegas native Dedan Thomas Jr.. While he doesn’t lead the team in scoring, he did in the first half, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor, which included some timely three-pointers to help keep Creighton at bay. Between Thomas Jr.’s hot shooting and Boone’s contributions, UNLV shot exactly 28% better from the field (55.6% to 27.6%).
In the second half, Boone would pick up where he left off in the first half, scoring the Rebels’ first six points. Kalkbrenner and Mason Miller would respond by scoring Creighton’s first 11 points, but it would be UNLV who would hold a 47-39 lead with 11:57 to go in the game. From that point on, it was all UNLV.
Boone continued to lead the way for the Rebels, scoring 17 in the second half to finish with a game high 25 points on 12-of-17 shooting (1-1 FT). Boone would also add in seven rebounds, an assist and four steals to round out his stat line. Creighton would begin to double team him with just under 10 minutes to go in the game, but it didn’t seem to matter, as UNLV moved the ball around to maintain and build their lead.
Kalib’s twin brother Keylan would score all of his and UNLV’s bench points in the second half, finishing with 10 on 4-of-11 shooting and some timely rebounds.
For Creighton, Kalkbrenner would do all he could to keep his team in it, finishing with a team high 22 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Kalkbrenner primarily did his damage in the paint and was nearly unguardable as a lob threat, finishing multiple thunderous dunks. Baylor Scheierman chipped in with 16 of his own, but only on 5-of-14 shooting and finishing with nearly as many made free throws (4) than made field goals.
Coming into the matchup UNLV shot 69.6% from the charity stripe, 33.8% from distance and 47.3% from the floor. Tonight, they shot 100% from the free-throw line (5-of-5), 45.5% from beyond the arc (10-of-22) and 52.5% from the floor.
The Rebels will hope to build off the win in the Jerry Colangelo Classic vs. the Saint Mary’s Gaels in Phoenix, Arizona on December 16th. The Blue Jays are headed home to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide for the team’s Powder Blue Out, also on December 16th.
This article was written by Mason McFee, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
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