Early fireworks as UNLV turns in dominant win on New Year’s Eve

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 | 2:28 p.m.

Navigating Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve can be a bit of a hassle, so the UNLV basketball team made things a little easier for their fans on Sunday by dispatching Carroll College, 81-57.

The game was essentially decided in the opening minutes, as the Scarlet and Gray raced to a 24-9 lead over their non-Division I opponent. That turned into a 22-point halftime advantage, and the Fighting Saints never got within 20 again the rest of the way. UNLV’s dominance on both ends of the floor gave fans the option of leaving the Thomas & Mack Center a little early to beat the holiday traffic.

Defense was the star of the game, as UNLV’s superior athletes ganged up on Carroll to force 25 turnovers and block 10 shots, both season highs. Carroll shot just 29.6% in the first half and 30.5% for the game.

That’s exactly what head coach Kevin Kruger was hoping to see out of his squad in their return from the holiday break. Kruger spent the past few practices imploring his players to buy into a defense-first identity, and they did that on Sunday.

Senior guard Justin Webster said the message has been received.

“The goal was simple, just come in here and try to establish our identity,” Webster said. “Guarding the ball, keeping the ball in front and rebounding. For the most part, we did that and were able to come out of here with a pretty good win.”

Senior center Kalib Boone anchored the defensive effort with four steals and three blocks in 18 minutes. He also scored 15 points, second on the team to Webster’s 16.

UNLV is now 6-5 on the season, with one more non-conference game (non-DI Bethesda at Cox Pavilion on Tuesday) before the Mountain West opener at San Diego State on Jan. 6.

Kruger’s squad has won three of its last four, with the only defeat coming in double-overtime to Saint Mary’s on a neutral court — a sign that the team’s newfound defense-first identity is starting to stick.

“We’ve done a good job of putting an emphasis on sitting down defensively, guarding the ball and understanding that a lot of good things happen not only on the defensive end, but on the offensive end, too, when you do a good job of that and make that your focus,” Kruger said.

Senior wing Luis Rodriguez and junior guard Jackie Johnson chipped in 12 points apiece, while freshman point guard D.J. Thomas set a career high with 10 assists.

Carroll College may not be a juggernaut, but Boone believes UNLV’s recent surge is for real and that defense can carry them through the long Mountain West season.

“We expect better for ourselves in the second half of the season,” Boone said. “That’s all we’re trying to focus on.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.