Senior night to remember: Rebels earn season sweep of Aztecs — PHOTOS

Julian Rishwain scored a career-high 26 points, hitting 6 of 9 3-pointers, for the Rebels. The guard was honored along with guard Jailen Bedford, forward Jalen Hill and center Isaiah Cottrell during UNLV’s senior night ceremony before the game.

UNLV coach Kevin Kruger noted after the win that it’s standard to wonder how the emotions of pregame recognition will impact how the seniors perform.

“But obviously, for this group, it didn’t do anything but energize them, and I just couldn’t be more proud of them. It’s something you’ll remember forever,” Kruger said. “Especially against a good team like San Diego State that’s just controlled the conference for 20 years.”

Rishwain, a transfer who has been in college for six years, was driven to channel his feelings as soon as he took the court during the ceremony.

“I was talking to my family, we were all standing there and I was just kind of emotional,” he said. “I tapped into those emotions, and that love that my family has given me throughout the years, and it worked out for me tonight. … I played with a chip on my shoulder and had an electric pep in my step.”

Junior guard Jaden Henley added 17 points for the Rebels (17-13, 11-8 Mountain West), who are locked into the No. 6 seed for next week’s conference tournament.

Senior guard Nick Boyd scored 19 for the Aztecs (20-8, 13-6).

UNLV has won three straight and six of seven, playing the past four games without injured leading scorer Dedan Thomas Jr.

Hill, who recorded 11 points and six rebounds, dedicated the success to Thomas.

“We’ve been playing hard,” he said. “We lost our point guard, and we’re just playing for him, really.”

For Rishwain, the Rebels’ third straight win is evidence that the Rebels can make a run.

“I think we’re building momentum going into the conference tournament and our next game,” he said, “New guys are stepping up, hitting big shots.”

No revenge

UNLV also pulled off a 76-68 upset win at San Diego State on Jan. 18, giving the Rebels their first season sweep of the Aztecs since the 2012-13 season.

Revenge was clearly on the agenda, as the visiting team started with a 14-7 advantage, but the Rebels showed they were prepared to battle. The lead was traded six times before San Diego State entered halftime on top 34-32.

The Aztecs’ early lead was powered by a 7-0 run amid a scoring drought that lasted 3:38 for the Rebels.

Freshman center Pape N’Diaye put the Rebels back on the board with a putback layup, then Rishwain and Henley resurrected the Rebels with back-to-back 3-pointers.

“(UNLV was) tough to beat tonight,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. “We let them shoot 60-something percent (65) in the second half. They outrebounded us (36-33), and we didn’t display the toughness to get over the hump this game.”

Technical foul streak

Kruger garnered his second technical foul in as many games with 8:48 left in the first half after expressing frustration that Henley didn’t draw a foul call on a turnover.

The previous tech on Kruger came in Friday’s home win over UNR.

“I think I kind of deserved tonight, I’m not gonna lie,” Kruger said. “I didn’t cuss at him or yell at him, but I was a little irritated today.”

When asked if Kruger would prefer to keep his streak of technical fouls alive or see UNLV’s NCAA-leading streak of 1,257 games with a 3-pointer end, he said he didn’t care about the latter.

“If I gotta get a third (tech) for us, if it’ll help us win, I guess I’ll take one for the team,” he joked.

From then, UNLV had four turnovers in a 4:26 span as the Aztecs held onto a 25-22 advantage.

Henley tech makes way for Bedford

Henley was called for an offensive foul after he appeared to attempt to wave away a reaching defender at the top of key, and officials bit on the subsequent flop.

It was Henley’s fourth foul, leading him to be subbed out with 12:24 left to play. He apparently took too long to get off the court, as the officials went on to hit the Rebels’ bench with an administrative technical foul. He didn’t return until the 3:20 mark.

The Aztecs had a 50-48 lead after the free throws, but the Rebels still wouldn’t go away.

Henley’s foul trouble allowed Bedford to shine, as he scored seven of his 10 points in the second half. He added eight rebounds in the effort, which came after he sustained an ankle injury against UNR.

“He played really well,” Kruger said. “Had some really big moments, and I’m really just happy he was able to play. … Even fighting through a little bit of pain makes it that much sweeter.”

Bedford had a layup and 3-pointer to put UNLV ahead 53-50 midway through the second half, and the Rebels never trailed again.

UNLV will finish the regular season at conference leader New Mexico (24-6, 16-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.