LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a choppy game that saw some impressive individual performances, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels outlasted the Saint Joseph's men's basketball team, 99-85 on Thursday night.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Deuce Jones II had his third game this season with 20+ points, netting 23. He also flirted with a triple-double with seven rebounds and a personal best eight assists. Jones connected on a career-high 14 free throws.
• Jaiden Glover-Toscano drained a career-high five three-pointers, leading to 20 points.
• Derek Simpson posted his highest scoring total in a Saint Joseph's uniform, tallying 20 with seven boards and five assists.
• The teams combined to take 83 free throws.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams got off to a slow start with the Hawks' defense shining early, forcing four UNLV turnovers in the opening four minutes. St. Joe's made its mark early at the line, starting 6-for-6, taking a 14-10 lead at the 12:26 mark.
• Saint Joseph's found itself in foul trouble as the half approached its midpoint, allowing UNLV to get back into the game and eventually take a 20-17 lead with 10:13 to go.
• UNLV stretched the lead to 27-22 before Jones took over, scoring all the points for the Hawks in a 10-5 run as Saint Joseph's tied the game at 32-32.
• Each time the Runnin' Rebels threatened to run away with the game St. Joe's had an answer, the last one coming as Dasear Haskins drove the baseline and hit a contested layup, just beating the buzzer as SJU trailed 45-40 at intermission.
• After the teams traded baskets early in the second half, Simpson picked up the offense, scoring eight Hawk points in a row, the last coming as a baseline drive that gave Saint Joseph's a 59-58 lead with 13:55 remaining.
• The advantage was short-lived as UNLV went on an 11-3 run in 102 seconds, going back on top at 69-62. Two minutes later, the Runnin' Rebels would extend the lead to 76-66.
• Undaunted, SJU used an 11-2 run of its own with seven of the points coming from Glover-Toscano, cutting the deficit to one with under eight minutes to play.
• UNLV claimed the last run of the game and hold on for the win.

 
UP NEXT
St. Joe's plays at home for the first time in more than two weeks when it hosts Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, November 25. Tipoff from Hagan Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+.