Game day: UNLV season ends with NIT loss at Seton Hall

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | noon

Updated Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | 6:01 p.m.

That's a wrap on the 2023-24 UNLV basketball season.

It was a campaign that saw the Scarlet and Gray return to the postseason for the first time in 11 years, and that run has just come to an end with a 91-68 loss at Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the NIT.

It was an ugly way to finish a productive campaign. UNLV fell behind in the opening minutes, 11-2, and spent the rest of the first half playing catch-up, to no avail. When Seton Hall went on a 16-0 run spanning halftime — including a 9-0 spurt on three consecutive 3-pointers by Al-Amir Dawes after the break — it was clear where this game was headed.

Dawes led all scorers with 21 points. UNLV was paced by Kalib Boone's 16 points. 

UNLV finishes 21-13 overall, with its most wins since the 2012-13 season. Now attention turns to a pivotal offseason, where Kevin Kruger's top priority will be keeping freshman D.J. Thomas in the program and filling out the rest of the roster to make a serious run at the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Seton Hall pulling away from UNLV in NIT quarters

Seton Hall guard Al-Amir Dawes may have just turned out the lights on UNLV's season. Dawes made three straight 3-pointers coming out of halftime, going on a personal 9-0 run to push the Pirates' lead to 26 and pretty much put this one out of reach.

With 16:16 remaining, Seton Hall now leads, 57-31.

UNLV appears to have run out of gas, playing with a shortened rotation and making its second cross-country trip in seven days. The Scarlet and Gray are just 13-of-37 from the field and have committed 11 turnovers, while allowing Seton Hall to score at will (59.5% from the field).

One glimmer of good news: After an 0-of-9 first half, UNLV did manage to extend its 3-point streak on a Justin Webster triple early in the second half. The program has now made a 3 in 1,227 consecutive games.

Seton Hall finishes strong, leads UNLV at half, 44-26

UNLV spent most of the half on the verge of disaster, and the dam finally broke in the final minutes, as Seton Hall closed on a 7-0 run to take a 44-26 lead into halftime.

Seton Hall played much better for the first 20 minutes, but poor shooting by the Pirates allowed UNLV to hang around. But once the home team started making shots, connecting on 9-of-10 to finish the half, the lead exploded beyond double figures.

The final play was a microcosm of UNLV's night so far. With the game clock and shot clock in sync, D.J. Thomas dribbled and held for the last shot; when he tried to make a cross-court pass, Seton Hall guard Dylan Addae-Wusu jumped it, made the steal and went the other way for a breakaway dunk before the buzzer.

If that weren't bad enough, UNLV is also 0-of-9 from 3-point range. It's not time to start a streak panic just yet, but that could become a factor if the Scarlet and Gray don't hit one soon. UNLV currently holds the all-time record for most consecutive games with a made 3-pointer at 1,226.

UNLV hanging tough at Seton Hall

It's definitely not pretty, but UNLV is hanging in there, as Rob Whaley scored on consecutive post-ups to bring the visitors within 24-18 with 6:48 left in the first half.

Outside of Whaley's bump, it's been a rough half offensively. UNLV is 8-of-22 from the field and 0-of-8 from 3-point range, surely worrying the streak watchers in Scarlet and Gray country. And after recording 17 assists and just one turnover against Boston College, UNLV already has five turnovers tonight (and only one assist).

Good thing Seton Hall is also struggling from long distance (1-of-9 3FGs), or this deficit would be much more daunting.

Seton Hall jumps ahead of UNLV, 13-4

Rob Whaley said UNLV would be prepared to take Seton Hall's opening punch, but it hasn't happened yet. The Pirates opened the game with an 11-2 run, and with 14:38 left in the half they're ahead, 13-4.

UNLV missed four of its first five shots while committing four turnovers, allowing Seton Hall to build its sizable early lead. The Pirates have made 6-of-10 from the floor, led by center Jaden Bediako, who has a game-high seven points on 3-of-3 shooting.

D.J. Thomas has been tagged for three turnovers already (though two were not his fault). This comes after UNLV committed just one turnover as a team in its win over Boston College on Sunday.

The Scarlet and Gray are going to have to clean it up on the offensive end.

UNLV heads to Seton Hall for NIT quarters

UNLV is one win away from a trip to Indianapolis for the NIT Final Four, and also one loss away from the season being finished.

That’s life during the month of March, and the Scarlet and Gray are living in the moment as they head to the east coast to take on Seton Hall in the NIT quarterfinals on Wednesday (4 p.m., ESPN2).

In addition to giving the players something to play for right now, head coach Kevin Kruger believes this run is positioning the program for future success.

“We talk about, we’ve got to be a program that obviously we want to be at a certain level, but you’ve got to get there,” Kruger said. “We’ve got to walk before we run. Being invited to the postseason for the first time was a great accomplishment for the guys. Going on the road, winning a postseason game, those practices that go into it — postseason practices have a little different weight, a little different feel to them, because you know it could be your last game.”

Will UNLV live to play another day, or will this be the end of the road? Three keys to watch:

Tough times

Seton Hall was the first team left out of the NCAA Tournament, and the Pirates are playing like it. After beating Saint Joseph’s in overtime in the first round of the NIT, they smashed North Texas, 72-58, on Saturday to advance to the quarters.

Junior forward Rob Whaley, who has started at center the last two games out of necessity, is one of UNLV’s most physically imposing players, and he is impressed with what he’s seen of Seton Hall on tape. After practice on Monday, Whaley commended the Pirates for their determined, downhill style.

In his estimation, the key to beating Seton Hall will be toughness.

“Tough east-coast team,” Whaley said. “We’ve got to be the tougher team, just do our job and get the win.”

Whaley especially wants to set a tone in the opening minutes, something UNLV has accomplished in its two NIT victories so far.

“I feel like we do a good job of matching every team’s intensity,” he said. “When teams come out throwing punches, we throw ‘em right back.”

Defending Seton Hall

Seton Hall is the best of the three teams UNLV has faced in the NIT. The Pirates are No. 60 in the KenPom ratings and are Top 75 in both adjusted offense and adjusted defense, with their most distinctive feature being a four-guard attack that puts constant pressure on the paint.

Without senior stopper Luis Rodriguez, who left the team after the Mountain West tournament, UNLV is a bit thin on the wings. The Scarlet and Gray will need junior Shane Nowell and senior Justin Webster to step up on the defensive end, and it starts with knowing the assignments.

Kruger said the tournament format puts a premium on being able to learn and apply a new scouting report for each game, and he believes his veteran-led squad is capable of doing that.

“Knowing who we’re guarding,” Kruger said when asked for the key to defending Seton Hall. “Sometimes on these quick turnarounds with these teams you’ve never seen before, a lot of it can come down to knowing who you’re up against.”

Boone is back

After logging 24 minutes off the bench against Boston College and playing well (16 points, six rebounds, three bocks), senior center Kalib Boone appears on track for starter’s minutes on Wednesday.

Kruger said Boone’s injured ankle responded well the day after the game, and he participated in Monday’s practice.

Whether or not Kruger will reinsert Boone into the starting lineup, he is going to play a major role as UNLV’s top post threat.

Freshman point guard D.J. Thomas felt Boone’s impact was pivotal against Boston College and wants to see it again at Seton hall.

“The spark he brought off the bench was great,” Thomas said. “He hit some big shots, especially early. He got going early. We definitely missed him.”

Who: UNLV (21-12, 12-6 MWC) at Seton Hall (22-12, 13-7 Big East)

When: Wednesday, 4 p.m.

Where: Walsh Gymnasium (South Orange, N.J.)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 1100 AM, 100.9 FM

UNLV leaders

Scoring

D.J. Thomas: 13.9 points

Rebounds

Keylan Boone: 6.8 rebounds

Assists

D.J. Thomas: 5.2 assists

Seton Hall leaders

Scoring

Kadary Richmond: 15.6 points

Rebounds

Jaden Bediako: 7.0 rebounds

Assists

Kadary Richmond: 5.0 assists

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