Pacific is coming off a narrow loss to UNLV

HENDERSON, Nevada – The Pacific men’s basketball program held a four-point lead midway through the second half, but UNLV scored three timely points and made free throws down the stretch to secure a 72-65 score Saturday at Lee’s Family Forum.

Pacific (5-7) used an 11-0 run to take a 42-38 lead with 13:06 left. The Tigers were on top with 11:27, but the Rebels (5-4) regained the lead with an 11-1 lead and were able to hold off Pacific in the end.

The game was part of the Jack Jones Classic and was played on a neutral court. It was about nine miles from UNLV’s home arena, the Thomas & Mack Center.

senior Elijah Ralph recorded 19 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, two steals and an assist. He was one of four Tigers to score in double figures, including a sophomore Elijah Fishers 13 points.

My second year I scored 12 points Jazz Gardnerand Junior Jefferson Koulibaly scored 10 points. Junior Lamar Washington delivered an all-round performance with eight points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals.

Pacific went cold from distance, finishing the game 4 of 21 (.190) compared to UNLV’s 8 of 18 (.444). The Tigers outshot the Rebels 39-37 and posted a 34-28 lead.

UNLV was guided by Julian Rishwain’s 21 points as he was 5 of 7 from long range. Dedan Thomas Jr. had 16 points and five assists.

After a three-pointer from the senior, the score was 8:8 early on Petar Krivokapic. The Tigers trailed by just 16:15 at 11:00 after Ralph had a lay-in back.

After a basket by Gardner, Pacific trailed 24-23 with 5:11 left. Towards the end of the half, however, the Rebels went on a bit of a run, scoring seven points and holding a 34-29 lead at the break.

The Tigers were trailing 38-31 in the second half when a jump shot from Gardner sparked an 11-0 run. They took the lead on an old-fashioned three-point play by Ralph and extended it to 42:38 with 13:35 minutes left on a basket by Washington.

Pacific didn’t lead until 11:27 until the Rebels started knocking down long-range shots and took a 53-47 lead with 8:05 left. UNLV pushed it to 66-55 with 2:27 left.

The Tigers continued to fight, using a 7-0 spurt to cut the score to 66-62 after Washington took a lead with 1:28 left. However, the Rebels managed to break the pressure and ultimately made enough free throws to stay ahead.

Next, the Tigers will play their first home game in 18 days and first in December when they host Portland State on Wednesday at the Alex G. Spanos Center at 7 p.m.

And one

The Tigers take a 40-38 lead 13:30 2H#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/mtxMpScMck

– Pacific Men’s Basketball (@PacificMensBB) December 15, 2024

NOTES

– It was the first meeting between the two teams since December 18, 2019, when the Tigers won 74-66. It was the 43rd meeting between the two and the first on a neutral site since March 11, 1990.

– The Tigers are now 2-1 on the neutral site this year with wins over San Jose State and Life Pacific in Hawaii.

– Ralph remained one of 10 players in the country to score double-digit points in every game this season. It was his second straight double-double and sixth of the year. He entered the game ranked second in the West Coast Conference in scoring (17.3 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (8.0 rpg), and will look to improve in both areas.

-Fisher, a fellow Ralph, was 8 of 10 from the free throw line. He scored in double figures for the fifth straight game, the 11th time this season and the 27th time in his career. Fisher logged 39:26 minutes.

– Gardner scored in double figures for the second straight year and third time this season. He was 6 of 8 (.750) from the floor and grabbed five rebounds.

– Koulibaly scored in double figures for the fourth time this year. He was 4 of 6 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

– Washington started 12th nationally in assists (6.5 apg) and will improve his grade after dishing out nine assists.

– Freshmen Carter Benton made his second appearance this season. He managed 3:50 minutes and grabbed two rebounds.

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