Live game blog: Rebels open season with 91-52 victory against Pittsburg State

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 6:56 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 9:03 p.m.

UNLV outscored Division II Pittsburg State 48-26 in the second half Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in a 91-52 season-opening victory.

Tre'Von Willis scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, including seven straight to open the half. Kendall Wallace was 4-of-5 on 3-pointers to finish with 16 points, while freshman Justin Hawkins added 11.

Pittsburg State committed 35 fouls, which led to a school record 52 free throw attempts for UNLV. The Rebels were 36-of-52 from the line.

UNLV closed the first half on a 24-7 run to lead by 17 points at the break and gradually increased its lead the rest of the game. After struggling early with their shots, the Rebels wound up shooting 41-percent.

UNLV only committed 10 turnovers and forced Pittsburg State into 28.

Brice Massamba and Darris Santee each had nine points for UNLV, while guard Steve Jones provided a spark off the bench with eight points.

Wallace having a good game in Rebels blowout of Pittsburg State

Guard Kendall Wallace is 4-of-5 on 3-pointers and has 16 points as UNLV has built its lead to 82-41 with five minutes to play against Division II Pittsburg State in its season opener.

Pittsburg State, fresh off a 103-48 loss to top-ranked Kansas this week, is starting to fade. The Gorillas have 25 turnovers in comparison to eight from UNLV and have misfired on all seven of the 3-pointers they have attempted.

UNLV has looked strong in the second half. The only question left — will UNLV clear the century mark in points scored?

Rebels on cruise control, lead now by 30 points

Tre'Von Willis has 13 second-half points and the Rebels have held Pittsburg State to six points in the half's opening eight minutes to build their lead to more than 30 points, 67-34 with 11:28 to play.

Kendall Wallace is also in double figures with 10 points for the Rebels, who are shooting 44-percent from the field after struggling early. UNLV only made four of its first 15 shots.

Several are showing their stuff as the Rebels have turned a close game in the early stages of the first half — they trailed by as many as five points — into a blowout. Guard Steve "Chopper" Jones has been one bright spot for UNLV, starting a rally in the first half with a 3-pointer and giving the Rebels a boost with eight points off the bench in 15 minutes

Willis scores seven straight points, Rebels extend lead

Tre'Von Willis has scored nine points in the initial four minutes of the second half, including seven straight, and the Rebels are starting to pour it on against Division II Pittsburg State in the season opener at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV closed the first half on a 24-7 run and Willis scored the initial seven points of the second half to help extend the lead to 55-28.

Willis leads the Rebels with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting and has hit all five of the free throws he has attempted.

Rebels close the first half on 24-7 rally

UNLV has broken the game open against Division II Pittsburg State and lead 43-26 at halftime thanks to closing the half on a 24-7 run.

Kendall Wallace has eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to pace the Rebels' offense. Freshman Justin Hawkins has seven points and Tre'Von Willis has four points and three assists.

The Rebels only made 5-of-16 shots to open the game and looked sluggish early in working out the first-game jitters. Their play resembled Tuesday's exhibition game victory against Washburn, where UNLV trailed with under eight minutes to play before closing strong and winning by 10.

With a victory seemingly guaranteed tonight, look for coach Lon Kruger to try various rotations in looking for the right combination of players for later in the season. Thus far, 10 Rebels have scored and 11 have played.

Rebels go on rally, lead by 10

It was only a matter of time until the UNLV basketball team found its touch against Division II Pittsburg State in the season opener. That moment came midway through the first half as the Rebels went on a 12-4 run to take a 31-21 lead with 3:28 to play in the half.

The Rebels missed seven of their first nine 3-pointers, but freshman Justin Hawkins and Steve Jones hit consecutive 3-pointers to spark the rally.

Also, Darris Santee muscled his way underneath the basket for an offensive rebound and layup. Hawkins leads the Rebels with six points, Santee has five and Jones, Tre'Von Willis and freshman Anthony Marshall have four.

Marshall, a local product from Mojave High, has been aggressive in his first college game. He's twice taken the ball to the basket and appears to be playing with confidence.

Rebels pull even with Pittsburg State in opener

UNLV has been in the double bonus since the 10:43 mark of the first half and has made seven of its last eight attempts from the line in erasing an early four-point deficit against Division II Pittsburg State to even the score at 19 with 7:31 to play in the half.

Tre'Von Willis leads UNLV with four points and eight Rebels have gotten into the score column. It's still ugly as they are only shooting 29-percent.

Rebels still behind in opener

Eight minutes into the UNLV basketball team's season opener and the Rebels have only made two shots — both 3-pointers.

Kendall Wallace and Derrick Jasper have connected from beyond the arc, but it isn't enough as the Rebels trailed Division II Pittsburg State 10-6 with 11:55 to play in the first half.

The Rebels are 2-of-9 from the field and have missed all five free throws they have taken. Thus far, the Rebels' performance is comparable to its ugly 10-point win Tuesday against Washburn in an exhibition game — the Rebels are playing down to their opponent, struggling to find their groove offensively and shooting a low percentage.

But it is still early — the season, after all, is eight minutes old.

Jasper starts strong in Rebels debut

Derrick Jasper didn't waste any time Saturday getting into the scoring column in the UNLV basketball team's season opener. The Kentucky transfer buried his first field goal attempt, draining a 3-pointer from the corner 45 seconds into the game against Division II Pittsburg State.

The Rebels, however, trail 6-3 at the first media timeout with 15:31 to play in the half. Jasper's bucket is the lone make for UNLV, which is 1-of-6 from the field. Pittsburg State, meanwhile, has made 3-of-4 of its attempts.

UNLV will more than likely spend a majority of the first half on the charity stripe. Pittsburg State has already been whistled for five personal fouls — two more and the Rebels will be in the bonus.

Pregame

The UNLV basketball season is minutes away from tipping off here at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV, which finished 21-11 last year and lost in the first round of the National Invitation tournament, begins a new campaign against Division II Pittsburg State of Kansas.

The Rebels are looking for their fourth straight season with 20 or more wins. It is coach Lon Kruger’s sixth year at the helm.

Junior guard Tre’Von Willis is the Rebels’ leading returning scorer (11.4 points per game) and rebounder (4.3). He will be joined in the starting lineup tonight by UCLA transfer Chace Stanback and Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper. Sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield and sophomore center Brice Massamba round out the starting five.

Pittsburg State is also opening its season and not expected to give UNLV much of a challenge. The Gorillas — yes, Gorillas — lost 103-45 to top-ranked Kansas in exhibition play this week.

Meanwhile, UNLV only connected on 4-of-23 of its 3-pointers in beating Division II Washburn by 10 points on Tuesday in its exhibition. The Rebels trailed late in the second half — something that shouldn't happen tonight.

We’ll be back once the action begin …