No. 18 UNLV upends Jacksonville State 77-58

(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

By ADAM SOBOLESKI

LAS VEGAS (AP) UNLV was stuck playing a slow-down game Saturday night.

The No. 18 Rebels faced a Jacksonville State team that tried to use most of the shot clock whenever possible.

But the strategy didn't work as the Gamecocks only scored 14 first-half points and UNLV cruised to a 77-58 win at the Global Sports Classic.

"A number of teams are going to play us that way," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "We have a lot of teams that are going to hold the ball on us. One thing that was constant was our defensive intensity."

Mike Moser scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, while reserve Justin Hawkins added 16 points to lead the Rebels.

"I love Justin Hawkins off the bench," Rice said. "Justin is a captain and a leader. He provides great leadership off the bench. He's a good sixth man as anyone is in the country."

Moser only had two points in a win over Northern Arizona earlier in the week at home.

"I've got to approach (every game) the same way," said Moser, who scored the game's first two points. "It was nice to start the game that way. I think I had more opportunities tonight. We've got to get everyone touching the ball. With the new guys coming in (this year), we've got to get the ball rolling."

Anthony Bennett had 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks for UNLV (2-0).

Katin Reinhardt and Anthony Marshall each had 11 points for the Rebels, who outrebounded the Gamecocks 41-24 and on the defensive boards 26-15. Marshall also had six assists.

UNLV, which never trailed, built a 36-16 lead with 19:36 left. The Gamecocks cut it to 62-51 with 5:44 remaining, but the Rebels scored the game's next five points.

Ronnie Boggs led Jacksonville State (3-1) with 16 points and nine rebounds. Darion Rackley had nine points.

"We have to understand our offensive game plan versus the team we're playing against," Jacksonville State coach James Green said. "We have to be stronger around the basket and rebound better. It really demoralized us to give up the defensive rebounds."

The Gamecocks' 3-0 start was their best since they became a Division I program before the 1995-96 season.

The Rebels, who led 32-14 at halftime, ended the first half on 14-2 run.

In the first half, Moser finished with 12 points and Hawkins had 11. The Gamecocks were 5 of 23 from the field in the half.

"It was a tough first half," Green said. "We played like we were totally intimidated. We didn't get our game plan into the game for the most part. We let it get away from us in the last 5 or 10 minutes of the first half."

This was the second game of the Classic for the Rebels. They defeated Northern Arizona 92-54 Monday night.

This was Jacksonville State's first game in the Classic and on the road.

The Gamecocks travel to Oregon for their second game Monday. The final two rounds will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center next Friday and Saturday.

UNLV will play Oregon in the third round next Friday night.

"It will be two games a week from now on," Rice said. "Good games and tougher games are coming up soon."

Updated November 18, 2012