UNLV head coach Josh Pastner used his time wisely after experiencing a flat tire at the Thomas & Mack Center following Tuesday’s overtime victory over Boise State. While waiting for the tire to be replaced, he made several calls to pass the time. One of those calls was to Howie Fleming Jr. around 1 a.m., where he conveyed the message that the senior guard needed to step up and be a warrior on the court.

Fleming responded on Saturday by delivering a standout performance, scoring 21 points and dishing out eight assists to lead the Rebels to a 76-62 win against San Jose State at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.

“That’s my dog,” Fleming said when reflecting on why he answered the call. “There’s more than just basketball here. We’re like a family, and that’s the culture we’re trying to build here. If anyone calls me with a UNLV by their name, I’m there.”

Fleming, who went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and converted all six of his free-throw attempts, was one of four Rebels to finish in double figures. His performance was a key factor in the team’s success, as they shot exceptionally well against a shorthanded San Jose State squad missing its top four scorers.

Here are three key takeaways from UNLV’s impressive win:

Shots Start Falling

The Rebels’ success wasn’t limited to their 3-point shooting. They also had an outstanding night at the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 12 attempts—marking their best performance of the season. This marked a significant turnaround from their recent struggles, where they had hit 60% or worse in five of the last eight games.

Emmanuel Stephen, who entered the game shooting just 7-of-18 from the free-throw line, made both of his attempts. Tyrin Jones, who had been 41-of-84 on the year, also converted both of his. However, it was the 3-point shooting that truly helped UNLV pull away from San Jose State.

The Rebels had struggled this season, entering the game shooting just 29.5% from beyond the arc. Their only previous game with over 40% shooting from distance was a 5-of-11 effort in a loss to Wyoming. On Saturday, they shot the ball often and effectively, including a 3-of-3 performance from Kimani Hamilton, a player who had previously shot just 29.3%.

“He made the right plays and got great looks,” Pastner said of Hamilton. “But he played the right way is the reason the ball went in the basket.”

Sharing the Ball

UNLV’s offensive efficiency was evident in their 17 assists on 27 made field goals. The team’s ability to move the ball and create open looks was a major factor in their success.

“I thought we really shared the ball,” Pastner said. “We’re getting better offensively. The open man is the go-to man. The go-to man is the open man. The violence of our cutting and the ball doesn’t stick. It’s not given a headache. It’s not getting massaged. People aren’t killing the grass standing around. Our cutting is really good.”

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who had played very little point guard before being pressed into action due to injury, showed improvement as a distributor. He recorded 10 points, four assists, and zero turnovers in the game, despite not being a natural point guard.

“He’s not a natural point guard, but he’s really learning the position,” Pastner said. “And he was warring over all those screens (on defense). He was awesome.”

Too Many Whistles

Despite the win, UNLV faced some challenges due to foul trouble. Emmanuel Stephen continued to struggle with fouls, even though he only picked up three Saturday—the lowest of the season. He had fouled out of three straight games and four of the eight games he had played since returning from injury.

Stephen picked up his second foul just 3:31 into the first half and was limited to 23 minutes of play, finishing with four points and six rebounds. He also drew the ire of Pastner again during the game, as he argued with officials in the second half.

Pastner was seen on the broadcast yelling at Stephen to stop complaining about the referees. This was the second straight game that Stephen had drawn criticism from the coach for his behavior on the court.