LAS VEGAS- San Jose State University was unable to find much success as the Spartans dropped their eighth-straight game in a 94-56 loss at UNLV on Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Arena.
The Spartans trailed just 10-4 early on before UNLV's Bryce Hamilton nailed a triple, the third of nine first-half treys for the Rebels, to spark a 21-3 run that ended on an Ashtin Chastain layup with 7:12 remaining in the half. The Rebels (10-7, 4-1) never looked back, taking a 46-25 lead into the half and closed out the game with 48 second-half points to cruise to the win. The 94 points were the most SJSU has given up this season.
UNLV, who entered the game shooting just 31 percent from 3-point range, shot 48.4 percent for the game, including 9-of-18 in the first half, and finished with a season-high 15 3-pointers with 49 percent of the offense coming off the 3-ball. The Rebels finished shooting 52.3 percent from the floor.
On the other side, the Spartans shot 23-of-66 (34.8 percent) from the field and tied a season-low with just three treys (3-15). Junior Michael Steadman led San Jose State with 14 points and seven rebounds, his 13th game in double figure scoring this season. Craig LeCesne added seven points and four assists.
Four Rebels finished in double-digit scoring led by Joel Ntambwe's 16. Noah Robotham added 13 while Kris Clyburn and Hamilton scored 12 apiece.
Coach Jean Prioleau turned to his bench for help and as a result freshmen Trey Smith and Kaison Hammonds saw increased minutes. Smith finished with a career-high five points while Hammonds pulled down a pair of rebounds and added a 3-pointer.
The Spartans now turn their attention to Wyoming, where they will take on the Cowboys in Laramie on Wednesday before returning home to host Air Force on Saturday, Jan. 26.