The UNLV men’s basketball team (9-8,2-3) is back at the Thomas and Mack Center to take on an in-conference opponent, the Air Force Falcons (7-10, 0-5). The Rebels are looking for a bounce-back win after dropping their last game against the Rams in Colorado this past Friday. Today’s matchup is the first home game to kick off the spring semester for UNLV and is also Coaches Vs Cancer Night presented by Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The first 1,500 fans to walk inside the Thomas and Mack will get a free pom pom and it is a $2 beer night for fans 21 plus through halftime.
PREVIOUS GAME FOR THE REBELS: The Boone brothers put up double-digit numbers and lead the scoring for the Rebels against Colorado, as Keylan Boone ties a season-high of 21 points and Kalib Boone put up a total of 14 points. However, the Rebels blew a 10-point lead with thirteen minutes to go, as Colorado put together an 11-2 run while UNLV was up 68-64 with 4:51 left in the game. The Rebels would try to fight back in the dying seconds, but it was too late and Colorado won the game with a final score of 75-78.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Even though the Rebels dropped a close game against Colorado, they take on a struggling Air Force team that is on an eight-game losing streak. Air Force has yet to get in the win column for an in-conference win (0-5) and currently sit dead last in the Mountain West. The Falcons have been struggling to put up points this season, as they only average 67.4 points per game. The Falcons are a smaller team and have averaged 31 boards per game and hit 67% of their 17.6 free throw attempts.
SOFTER SCHEDULE FOR THE REBELS: After alternating wins and losses this season, the Rebels are starting to enter a softer stretch of their schedule after playing all of the top teams in the Mountain West. So far the Rebels have averaged a total of 76.6 points per game while dishing 15.2 assists, committing 10.6 turnovers, and grabbing 34 boards. After the Air Force game, the Rebels will start to take on some bottom-tier teams in the Mountain West. Their next game will be at San Jose State, which currently ranks third to last in the Mountain West. Then the Rebels will be back in Las Vegas to face off against the Fresno State Bulldogs who are second to last in the Mountain West. Can the Runnin’ Rebels finally put together a winning streak?
