Las Vegas, NV— Elijah Harkless have been on fire the last few games and getting better every game he steps on the hardwood.
Harless scored 18 points in UNLV’s 68-62 victory over rival Nevada on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Harkless collected nine rebounds and five assists for UNLV (14-7, 3-6 Mountain West Conference). Justin Webster chipped in 17 points while going 6 of 11 (5 for 8 from beyond the arc). Shane Nowell poured in eight points and shot 3 for 4, including 2 for 3 from downtown.
The Running’ Rebels has now won three straight games against Nevada.
With the loss, Nevada now holds an overall record of 16-6 this season, including a mark of 6-3 in Mountain West play.
UNLV had 12 fast-break points on the night, while the Wolf Pack had zero.
(On the atmosphere) “There are no words you can put into how great it was to go out there and see that – how important it is. Hopefully everyone had a great time. I know the guys appreciated it and I know we appreciated it as a staff and also as a university. Just going out there and seeing people cheering and seeing people talking, it had that buzz of a rivalry game. There was no doubt that having the crowd get into it the way they did tonight was a huge advantage for us.” – Rebels head coach Kevin Kruger.
Webster scored 12 points in the first half for UNLV, who led 35-33 going into the locker room. The Rebels outscored Nevada by four points in the second half. Harkless led the way with 10 second-half points.
In the second half, Darrion Williams hit his third 3-pointer of the game on Nevada’s next possession gave Nevada a three-point lead, which marked their first lead since there was 13:12 left in the first half.
After UNLV made a free throw, Williams hit two shots at the line, increasing Nevada’s lead to four.
Jarod Lucas scored 15 points and two steals for the Wolf Pack. Kenan Blackshear chipped in 14 points, six assists and two swipes for Nevada. Darrion Williams also had 13 points.
The Rebels popped off with a 14-5 run in just over five minutes of the contest to turn a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead over the Wolf Pack with 9:26 left in the game.
The Pack wouldn’t go away quietly, putting together an 8-0 spurt to retake the lead, as they held a 57-56 lead over the Rebels with just 6:19 left.
UNLV took the lead 37 seconds later on a layup and they would not relinquish it for the remainder of the game, the Pack was held scoreless over the final four minutes of the contest, going on to fall to the Rebels.
Nevada shot 55.5 percent from downtown in the first half, and 41.2 percent from distance for the game.
UNLV forced the Pack to commit 19 turnovers and Nevada outrebounded the Rebels, 37-35.
Up Next:
Nevada will return home to face San Diego State at Lawlor Events Center this Tuesday night at 8pm.
UNLV will head back out on the road for a game at Colorado State on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT contest will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
