Dent dishes out career high in assists as UNM creams Rice

Nov. 22—HENDERSON, Nev. — Donovan Dent scored 18 points and dished out a career high 11 assists and the UNM Lobos blasted the Rice Owls 90-56 on Wednesday night in their second game of this week's Ball Dawgs Classic at the Dollar Loan Center.

The Lobo sophomore continued to shine early this season, playing the role of floor general for the fourth-consecutive game in the absence of fifth-year senior point guard Jaelen House, who remains day-to-day with a hip injury and likely isn't going to play in Friday's Ball Dawgs finale against Pepperdine.

"We just kind of found a flaw in (Rice's) defense," Dent told the Journal. "We were running high ball screen stuff and they're struggling to stop it in the first half, and we just kind of kept it up in the second half. But it really started on defense for us. I fell like we were guarding really well, forcing some tough shots. That's how we want to play it all of our games for now on."

Dent was one of five Lobos (4-1) to score in double figures and 10 of the 11 UNM players who got on the court ended up in the scoring column on a night UNM scored a season-best 1.250 points per possession.

But, as the sophomore star said, it wasn't just about offense. The Lobos scored 26 points off 17 Rice turnovers, held the Owls (1-4) to 34.0% shooting and to a season-worst 0.789 points per possession.

"A terrific defensive performance for our guys," Lobos coach Richard Pitino said. "I think offensively we've been able to put up some great numbers. But we haven't had a terrific defensive performance yet. And second half was great. Rice is a very good offensive team. They're a top 100 KenPom team.

"We felt like we could score but we had to get stops. We took them out of their rhythm, made them uncomfortable, turned them over, and we were able to play the bench, which is great as well, just because you've got three games in four days (in the Ball Dawgs Classic)," he said.

After Rice hit the first bucket of the game, the Lobos went on a 9-0 run and really never looked back. UNM led by as many as 16 points in the first half and poured it on even with backups in the game down the stretch in the second half.

And throughout, the on-court chemistry between Dent and freshman phenom JT Toppin, especially in that high ball screen action, was too much for Rice to handle.

Toppin followed Tuesday's 27-point, 11-rebound game against Toledo with a stat-stuffing 13-point, 6-rebound, 4-block, 3-steal night on Wednesday.

UNM shot 50.7% in the game, outrebounded Rice 42-30, outscored the Owls in the paint 46-16 and 30-5 in bench scoring.

Joining Dent and Toppin in double-figure scoring were freshman Tru Washington (14), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (13) and Nelly Junior Joseph (10).

SEVERAL FIRSTS: Wednesday marked Dent's first double-digit assist game, Isaac Mushila's first points scored as a Lobo (he scored 5), Washington's first double-figure scoring game, and a new career high in scoring for Quinton Webb (7).

NOODLES AND RICE: With his son and former Lobo Cullen Neal on the Rice staff, former UNM Lobo coach Craig Neal and his wife, Janet Neal, were sitting courtside for Wednesday's game.

Craig Neal is the associated head coach at Nevada.

INJURY FRONT: House continues to be day-to-day with a hip injury and the team continues to err on the side of caution. House, again on the team bench during the game and even seen shooting some in pregame warm-ups, though in street clothes and not dressed, will go through more workouts before Friday's game against Pepperdine, Pitino said House could play Friday, but it sounds like next week in the Pit is a more likely return.

"Most likely doubtful for Thursday. I think we're really targeting next Wednesday as his return," Pitino said. "The hard part is he hasn't gotten a lot of live reps in practice. And that's important for him to do that before he plays.

"So, we'll practice again (Thursday), put him through a good hard workout, but he's certainly progressing and he's getting closer and closer."

Mashburn hurt his ankle in Wednesday's game and played just 8 minutes in the second half, though several were after the injury.

"A little hobbled, Pitino said. "I don't know what exactly happened. He said he sprained his ankle, so we'll see."