1. Division II Dixie State was able to force an overtime game with top-25 UNLV. Yes, this was only an exhibition, but it's still a red flag (albeit, a minor one). Dixie State isn't among the Division II top-25 (they're deep in the "also receiving votes" category) but that will change if they play like they did down the stretch in Vegas. UNLV can chalk this up to rotations and a lack of focus. But that doesn't mean it's okay.
2. This was a remarkably uptempo (and overtime) 87 possession game. Dixie State turned it over 24 times, which was 28% of their possessions, while UNLV turned the ball over 21 times (24%). The sloppy play led to neither team managing a point per possession. UNLV had the No. 71 offense in the nation last season, averaging a strength adjusted 1.074 points per possession. Against Dixie State they managed a measly 0.93 PPP.
3. Carlos Lopez-Sosa attempted five shots on the night, and only made one. But his one was in the game's 45th minute – a layup with 6 seconds left which gave the Rebels the win.
4. One of the questions I had in the preseason was how UNLV was going to score from beyond the arc. They didn't do that very well against Dixie State, making just 6-32 on the game (18.8%). Mike Moser, Anthony Bennett and Justin Hawkins combined to go 1-16. UNLV lost Chase Stanback off of last year's team, who was a 46% 3-point shooter.
5. Each team's largest lead says a lot about this game. UNLV led by 18 near the end of the 1st half, while Dixie State led by 7 with 3:20 left in OT. UNLV got it done early, and got it done late. Whatever happened in the middle needs to be out of their system.
