LAS VEGAS -- The UNLV Runnin' Rebels have won five of their last six games after taking down UNR 68-55 at the Thomas & Mack Center, powered by a second consecutive career night from Jaden Henley.
Henley followed up his 22-point outing in the win over San Jose State with 23 points, three assists, and eight rebounds, shooting 8-of-14 from the field.
With primary playmaker Dedan Thomas Jr. still sidelined with a shoulder injury, Henley has stepped up as the clear number-one option on offense. He stretched UNR's defense all game, creating quality looks for himself with an array of moves he showcased throughout the night.
"My confidence is really high," Henley said. "The biggest thing is the game is starting to slow down. Nothing has really changed—just that my team is looking for me a little bit more, and when the opportunity comes, I'm ready to step up."
Jalen Hill continued his role in the 1-2 punch with Henley, posting 16 points and eight rebounds while shooting 10-for-11 from the free-throw line.
"Between Henley and Hill, they're forming a really good dual-point guard setup," coach Kevin Kruger said. "Both are handling it, running the offense, and it's getting them into a rhythm earlier."
As a team, UNLV shot 20-for-21 from the line, their highest percentage of the year. After a rough stretch in January when clutch-time free-throw shooting plagued the Rebels, they've regained confidence in closing out games at the stripe.
"That just shows the work that we put in," Hill said. "That just goes to what we do after practice—we put up a lot of shots."
The Rebels also dominated the paint, winning the rebounding battle by a season-high 21 boards. Offensively, they outrebounded the Wolf Pack 14-7, leading to 19 second-chance points compared to UNR’s four.
Sixth man Jailen Bedford struggled offensively, shooting just 2-of-15 for four points, but he made his presence felt with a game-high 11 rebounds. Late in the game, Bedford took a hard fall while attacking the basket and left the court. Kruger indicated there was no update on his status.
Julian Rishwain and Jeremiah Cherry rounded out the Rebels’ four double-figure scorers, chipping in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
UNR struggled from the field, shooting just 14% from deep on 21 attempts and 34% overall. However, senior guard Kobe Sanders was a bright spot for the Wolf Pack, pouring in 30 points while going 10-for-10 from the line.
"He's just so efficient," Kruger said. "We did a good job forcing him into that area, but I would bet he's probably the most efficient player in the country in the midrange.
"He shoots it with such confidence, and with his height, he can raise up over defenders. I felt like a lot of times the result was going to be good, and he made the shot."
After a tight first half, UNLV built an eight-point lead at halftime.
Following a brief scoring drought to start the second half, the Rebels extended their lead to double digits behind Cherry and never relinquished control.
Henley’s fourth and final bucket of the second half pushed UNLV’s lead to a game-high 16 points, and Hill closed it out at the free-throw line. The Rebels finished a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe in the second half.
With five wins in their last six games, the Rebels face a tough final stretch to close the season. Their last two matchups are against San Diego State and New Mexico, both Mountain West contenders. The two-game stand begins at home, with UNLV hosting SDSU on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
"This is a group that is feeling really good right now," Kruger said. "We've got to keep that momentum going."
