UNLV opens Kevin Kruger era with win over Gardner-Webb
Updated November 10, 2021 - 10:03 pm

UNLV Rebels guard Josh Baker (22) and forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) react to a refereeճ call next to Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs forward Zion Williams (15) during the the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Marvin Coleman (31) and Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard D'Maurian Williams (4) eye the ball during the the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) attempts to block a shot by Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard D'Maurian Williams (4) during the the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard Jordan Sears (2) dribbles up the court followed by UNLV Rebels guard Marvin Coleman (31) during the the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Marvin Coleman (31) and guard Justin Webster (2) fight for the ball with Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs forward Zion Williams (15) during the the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13) guards Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs forward Zion Williams (15) during the first half of the season opener of an NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV cheerleaders pump up the crowd before the UNLV Rebels season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels head coach Kevin Kruger coaches from the sidelines during the first half of the UNLV Rebels season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Josh Baker (22) dribbles up the court guarded by Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard D'Maurian Williams (4) during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Mike Nuga (1) passes as Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard Lance Terry (0) hits the court during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13) shoots a three-pointer guarded by Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard Lance Terry (0) during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) celebrates a scored point during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) is welcomed to the bench by coaching staff, guard Keshon Gilbert (10) and guard Mike Nuga (1) during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) attempts a point as Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard Anthony Selden (23) jumps to block him during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

The UNLV fan section cheers for their team in the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Josh Baker (22) eyes the ball as Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs guard Jordan Sears (2) dribbles up the court during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13) passes the ball as Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs forward Zion Williams (15) guards him during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Donovan Williams (3) reacts after referees called a personal and technical foul on him during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. Also pictured are UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13), guard Josh Baker (22) and guard Marvin Coleman (31). (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels guard Bryce Hamilton (13) jumps to score as Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs forward Kareem Reid (14) and guard D'Maurian Williams (4) catch up to him during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) and guard Mike Nuga (1) celebrate a blocked point by Hamm Jr. during the second half of a season opener NCAA menճ basketball game against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
The great reveal took place Wednesday night, the first chance for new coach Kevin Kruger to run his own program and for a roster with nine transfers to make its own statement.
UNLV was fortunate the opponent was Gardner-Webb.
The Rebels missed and missed and missed, but because Gardner-Webb had its own shooting difficulties and couldn’t pull away. UNLV finally was able to pull out a 64-58 victory in the season opener at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Kruger, the point guard on the Rebels’ 2007 team that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, said it was a noticeable difference being an assistant and the head coach.
“I was over there pacing,” Kruger said. “I didn’t know whether to sit down or what to do for a minute. Playing (for UNLV) was easy. You just went out and ran around.”
Forward Royce Hamm had a double-double by early in the second half for UNLV, and he finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds as well as four blocked shots. Guard Bryce Hamilton led the Rebels with 22 points on his 21st birthday.
“Even though we didn’t have our best game, I felt like we showed a lot of fight and found a way to win,” Hamilton said.
Regardless of how it looked, the Rebels will take the victory, the first for Kruger as a head coach. He was elevated from assistant after T.J. Otzelberger left for Iowa State after last season.
“It was big to get a win for him the first time as a head coach,” Hamm said. “I love the connection we have with him.”
Kruger’s dad, Lon, had the last sustained run of success at UNLV when he coached from 2004-11, reaching the NCAA Tournament four times.
Whether the son can reach those kinds of heights remains to be seen. He took over a program that needed to cobble together a roster. He’s still searching for a rotation and likely will be experimenting for some time.
Kruger often substituted four players at a time, though he said that was more in an effort to create pressure than find the ideal lineup.
He’ll need to find better shooting after UNLV made just 1 of 17 3-pointers in the first half. The Rebels shot fewer 3s in the second half, but their accuracy didn’t improve much in going 2-for-25 overall.
But, in the end, the Rebels got the victory.
“I think coming into the game, we kind of thought it was going to be a little easier than it was,” Hamm said. “They hit us in our mouth, and we found a way to come back and respond.”
Senior guard Jordan McCabe did not play. He was suspended by the NCAA for a game for participating in an unsanctioned event.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.