Hot-shooting UNLV stuns No. 8 Creighton

Field Level Media|published: Thu 14th December, 24:03 2023

Feb 11, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UNLV Rebels head coach Kevin Kruger gestures during the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Viejas Arena. credits: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Kalib Boone scored a season-high 25 points to fuel host UNLV to a 79-64 victory over No. 8 Creighton on Wednesday in Henderson, Nev.

Boone sank 12 of 17 attempts from the floor and added seven rebounds and four steals. He fell just shy of his career high of 27 points, set last season while with Oklahoma State.

Dedan Thomas Jr. collected 16 points, nine assists and six rebounds for UNLV (4-4), which shot 52.5 percent from the floor (32 of 61) and 45.5 percent from 3-point range (10 of 22).

Justin Webster sank three 3-pointers to highlight his 13-point performance. Keylan Boone scored 10 points off the bench in his first action for the Rebels. He transferred from Pacific after last season.

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner collected 22 points and eight rebounds and Baylor Scheierman added 16 points, seven boards and seven assists. Mason Miller scored 11 points for the Bluejays (8-2), who struggled mightily from 3-point range and saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt.

Creighton made just 8 of 28 shots from beyond the arc (28.6 percent). The Blue Jays entered Wednesday averaging a nation-best 12.6 successful 3-pointers per game.

Francisco Farabello drilled a 3-pointer to trim UNLV's lead to 30-26 with 4:17 to play in the first half. Undaunted, the Rebels doubled their advantage after Kalib Boone made a layup and Thomas added a pair of jumpers during a 6-2 run.

Kalib Boone scored his team's first six points of the second half and Isaiah Cottrell sank a 3-pointer to push UNLV's lead to 47-37 with 13:12 to play.

Farabello sank another 3-pointer to trim the Bluejays' deficit to seven at 51-44 before Keylan Boone and Webster each converted from beyond the arc to ignite an 11-2 run for the Rebels.

Luis Rodriguez drained a 3-pointer to push UNLV's advantage to 77-62 with 3:09 remaining in the second half. Kalib Boone secured an offensive rebound on the next possession and polished it off with an emphatic dunk to provide the exclamation point on the victory.

—Field Level Media

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