Virginia @ Kohler
Pete Peterson
Miller’s 44 Powers Virginia Past Kohler in High-Scoring RBL Clash
Kohler, WI — In a game that felt like a throwback to the league’s most electric offensive nights, the Virginia Squires rode the hot hand of Reggie Miller and the playmaking wizardry of Nick Van Exel to a 108–102 road victory over the Kohler Toiletmakers on Friday night.
Miller was nothing short of spectacular, pouring in 44 points in one of the most explosive scoring performances of the RBL season. The Squires’ sharpshooter hit from everywhere — deep threes, transition pull-ups, and slashing drives — frustrating Kohler defenders who simply could not slow him down.
“When Reggie gets going like that, it changes the whole energy of the game,” Van Exel said afterward. “You feel it on the bench. You feel it on the floor. The defense starts chasing shadows.”
Virginia improved to 13–21 with the win, while Kohler slipped to 14–26.
Early Fireworks
The game opened with a burst of offense on both sides.
Miller struck first with an early drive to the basket before Kohler countered with inside muscle from Shaquille O’Neal and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. The Toiletmakers looked determined to pound the ball into the paint, while Virginia pushed tempo whenever possible.
It didn’t take long for Miller to find his rhythm.
Midway through the first quarter he buried a three-pointer that ignited a Virginia run. Moments later he added another jumper and then attacked the rim, giving the Squires momentum and forcing Kohler to scramble defensively.
By the end of the opening quarter, Virginia had seized control behind Miller’s 14 early points.
“We wanted to play fast tonight,” Miller said. “When we run, good things happen for us.”
Van Exel Pulls the Strings
While Miller was lighting up the scoreboard, Nick Van Exel quietly orchestrated everything.
The veteran guard finished with 13 assists, constantly probing Kohler’s defense and delivering pinpoint passes that created easy scoring opportunities.
One sequence in the second quarter summed up his night perfectly.
Van Exel pushed the ball up the floor, whipped a no-look pass to Rasheed Wallace for a fast-break dunk, then moments later found Glenn Robinson streaking to the rim for another transition basket.
“Nick sees the whole game,” Robinson said. “He knows where everyone’s going to be before we even get there.”
Virginia led 55–49 at halftime, with Miller already sitting on 24 points.
Kohler’s Big Men Respond
The Toiletmakers leaned heavily on their interior power to stay close.
Shaquille O’Neal dominated inside, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds, repeatedly overpowering defenders and drawing fouls near the rim.
Abdur-Rahim added 25 points, attacking off the dribble and knocking down mid-range jumpers to keep the Squires from running away with the game.
“We wanted to make them feel us inside,” O’Neal said. “That’s our strength. When we get the ball in the paint, we can score.”
The strategy worked for stretches. Kohler chipped away late in the third quarter behind O’Neal’s physical presence and a pair of baskets from Jerry Stackhouse off the bench.
But just when the crowd sensed a shift, Miller answered again.
Miller’s Third-Quarter Barrage
Early in the third quarter, Miller delivered the kind of scoring burst that has defined his career.
First came a deep three from the wing. Then another moments later from nearly the same spot. On the next possession he leaked out in transition for an easy basket that pushed Virginia’s lead back into double digits.
“Sometimes all you can do is tip your cap,” Kohler guard Joe Dumars said. “He was making everything.”
By the end of the quarter Miller had pushed past 35 points, and Virginia had rebuilt its cushion.
Late Push Falls Short
Kohler refused to go quietly.
O’Neal hammered home another dunk midway through the fourth quarter, and Abdur-Rahim added a driving basket that trimmed the lead to six. Stackhouse also provided a spark with 17 points off the bench.
But each time Kohler threatened, Virginia had an answer.
With under three minutes remaining, Miller raced down the floor on a fast break and finished at the rim to restore breathing room for the Squires.
“That was the dagger,” Van Exel said. “Once that went in, we knew we had them.”
Virginia calmly closed the game out from there, sealing the six-point victory.
Balanced Support for the Star
Though Miller stole the spotlight, the Squires received strong support across the lineup.
Rasheed Wallace contributed 13 points and 15 rebounds, battling O’Neal inside throughout the night. Glenn Robinson added 14 points and 11 rebounds, providing a physical presence on both ends of the floor.
The Squires also thrived in transition, repeatedly turning defensive rebounds into fast-break opportunities that kept Kohler’s defense off balance.
“We wanted to attack,” Virginia’s coach said. “When we rebound and run, we’re a very dangerous team.”
A Statement Night
For Miller, the performance served as another reminder of his ability to take over a game.
Forty-four points on the road — in a hostile arena against a physical opponent — is the kind of night that turns heads across the league.
“Reggie was special tonight,” Wallace said. “You could feel it building all game.”
And for the Virginia Squires, that kind of star power was more than enough to leave Kohler with a hard-fought road win.