HENDERSON, Nev. – The Pacific men's basketball program carried a four-point lead near the midway point of the second half, but UNLV hit timely three-pointers and made free throws down the stretch to snatch a 72-65 result Saturday at Lee's Family Forum.
 
Pacific (5-7) used an 11-0 scoring run to jump ahead 42-38 with 13:06 remaining. The Tigers were on top at the 11:27 mark but the Rebels (5-4) went on an 11-1 spurt to leap back in front 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 away from UNLV's home arena, the Thomas & Mack Center.
 
Senior Elias Ralph registered 19 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, two steals and an assist. He was one of four Tigers to score in double-figures which included sophomore Elijah Fisher's 13 points.
 
Scoring 12 points was sophomore Jazz Gardner, and junior Jefferson Koulibaly netted 10. Junior Lamar Washington turned in an all-around effort with eight points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals.
 
Pacific went cold from long-range and finished 4-of-21 (.190), compared to UNLV's 8-of-18 (.444). The Tigers outrebounded the Rebels 39-37 and recorded a 34-28 advantage in the paint.
 
UNLV was guided by Julian Rishwain's 21 points as he was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Dedan Thomas Jr. had 16 points and five assists.
 
The score was tied 8-8 early after a three by senior Petar Krivokapic. The Tigers trailed just 16-15 at the 11:00 mark after a lay-in back Ralph.
 
Pacific was down 24-23 with 5:11 to go after a bucket by Gardner. Though, the Rebels went on a small run late in the half to go up seven and carried a 34-29 edge at the intermission.
 
The Tigers trailed 38-31 in the second half when a jumper by Gardner sparked an 11-0 run. They took the lead on an old-fashion three-point play by Ralph and extended it to 42-38 with 13:35 remaining on a basket by Washington.
 
Pacific led as late as the 11:27 mark until the Rebels started knocking down long-range shots and went up 53-47 with 8:05 to go. UNLV pushed it up to 66-55 with 2:27 left.
 
The Tigers kept fighting down the stretch and used a 7-0 spurt to trim it to 66-62 after a jumper by Washington with 1:28 remaining. Though, the Rebels were able to break the press and made enough free throws in the end to stay ahead.
 
Up next, the Tigers will play their first home game in 18 days and the first in December when they host Portland State at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 

And oneeee

Tigers take the lead 40-38, 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 Dec. 18, 2019 when the Tigers won 74-66. It was the 43rd encounter between the two all-time and the first on a neutral court since March 11, 1990.
 
- The Tigers are now 2-1 on a neutral court this year with wins over San Jose State and Life Pacific in Hawaii.
 
- Ralph remained one of 10 players in the nation to score in double-figures in every game this season. It was his second straight double-double and sixth this 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 improve on both tallies.
 
- Fisher, a fellow Canadian to Ralph, was 8-of-10 from the free throw line. He scored in double-digits for the fifth game in a row, 11th time this season and 27th time in his career. Fisher logged 39:26 minutes.
 
- Gardner etched his second straight double-figure scoring performance and third of the season. He was 6-of-8 (.750) from the floor and secured five rebounds.
 
- Koulibaly reached double-figures in scoring for the fourth time this year. He was 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
 
- Washington entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in assists (6.5 apg) and will improve his mark after dishing out nine.
 
- Freshman Carter Benton made his second appearance of the season. He logged 3:50 minutes and grabbed a pair of rebounds.
 
Tigers Tickets
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