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Thames leads San Diego State past UNLV

Jan 19, 2014 - 3:03 AM San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Xavier Thames tallied a game-high 18 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists, as No. 10 San Diego State extended its win streak to 15 games with a 63-52 triumph over UNLV on Saturday at Viejas Arena.

Josh Davis donated a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards, while Winston Shepard added eight points and nine rebounds for the Aztecs (16-1, 5-0 MWC), who suffered their lone setback of the season on Nov. 14 against now No. 1 Arizona.

Bryce Dejean-Jones led UNLV (11-7, 2-3) with 15 points, but went a woeful 0- for-7 from beyond the arc for the Runnin' Rebels, who shot just 2-for-18 from distance as a team while dropping their third game in four tries.

Roscoe Smith scored seven of UNLV's first nine points and tied the tilt at 9-9 when he buried a jumper with 10:34 left in the first half, but the Runnin' Rebels went the next seven-plus minutes without a field goal, allowing the Aztecs to reel off a game-changing 19-2 surge.

Ageel Quinn netted five straight in the spurt, which Skylar Spencer capped with a tip-in for a 28-11 SDSU lead with 3:31 left in the first half.

Dejean-Jones quelled the UNLV field-goal drought with a jumper that sparked a 7-0 sprint from the visitors, but the Aztecs closed the half on a 6-2 swing to take a 34-20 cushion into the break.

"We just dug ourselves too deep a hole in the first half," UNLV head coach Dave Rice said. "It's hard against a terrific team like San Diego State to dig yourselves into a hole."

UNLV moved within six twice over the first 10 minutes of the second half, including when Khem Birch finished a layup that brought the Runnin' Rebels within 44-38 with 10:44 on the clock.

San Diego State answered with six of the next eight points to push the spread back to 10, but a Christian Wood triple, followed by a Deville Smith layup found UNLV within 50-45 with 5:48 remaining.

However, the Aztecs used a quick 8-3 to again create a double-digit gap, and with the Runnin' Rebels struggling to find the bottom of the net down the stretch, San Diego State was able to seal the outcome from the free throw line.

"When they made their charge, we found a way to make a play to keep them at bay, which is what you have to do," SDSU head coach Steve Alford said.

Game Notes

Davis recorded his 38th career double-double and seventh this season ... San Diego State shot 2-of-11 from 3-point range ... SDSU won the rebounding battle, 49-39 ... Roscoe Smith registered 12 points and 10 boards for UNLV.