UNLVRebels.com
The UNLV men’s basketball team, winner of three straight and eight of its last nine games, will return to the Thomas & Mack Center this weekend to host San Jose State at 7 p.m.
PROMOTIONS: Fans are encouraged to wear black to the game on Saturday. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a free black UNLV T-shirt, courtesy of America First Credit Union. There will also be a bingo promotion during the game for free prizes and 10 $100 Visa gift cards will be dropped into the crowd during the second half, presented by Professional Roofing Services. In addition, a limited edition poster print will be given away.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV (17-10, 10-5, T-4th in MW) is coming off a 75-69 overtime win at Wyoming on Tuesday night. Kalib Boone led the Runnin’ Rebels with a game-high 24 points and a season- and game-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 13 points, while Justin Webster contributed 11. It marked UNLV’s 10th Mountain West win of the season and improved its road record in league play to 6-2.
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.9 ppg), Kalib Boone (12.1 ppg), Keylan Boone (11.8 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (11.2 ppg) and Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Rodriguez leads the team in rebounds (6.6 rpg, 9th in MW) and steals (1.7 spg, 2nd in MW), Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (5.4 apg, 5th in MW, 31st in nation), and Boone leads in blocks (1.6 bpg, 2nd in MW). Hill missed six games with a wrist injury and returned at San Diego State on Jan. 6, but left late in the first half in that game after suffering a knee injury, which an MRI later revealed to be a season-ending ACL tear.
ABOUT THE ROSTER: This season’s UNLV squad features seven returners from last year’s team along with seven newcomers. The newcomers are made up of three Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and three freshmen. UNLV has 10 upperclassmen, including five fifth-year seniors. A total of four players on the roster are playing in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin’ Rebels return two starters in Luis Rodriguez and Justin Webster, who averaged 10.7 and 8.2 points per game last season, respectively. Rodriguez led last season’s team in rebounding (5.7 rpg).
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: San Jose State (9-20, 2-14, 11th in MW) enters Saturday’s game having lost four straight and 11 of its last 12. The Spartans are coming off a 72-64 loss at San Diego State on Tuesday night. Four SJSU players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Myron Amey Jr.’s 15.9 ppg (7th in MW). He also leads the team in rebounding (4.9 rpg). Alvaro Cardenas is the team’s assist leader (5.4 apg, 6th in MW), Amey Jr. leads in steals (1.6 spg, 4th in MW) and Adrame Diongue leads in blocks (1.5 bpg, 3rd in MW). The Spartans are 6-8 at home this season and 1-11 in true road games. San Jose State ranks second in the Mountain West in 3-pointers made per game at 8.7. SJSU went 21-14 overall last season, including 10-8 in MW play to finish fifth. SJSU played in the College Basketball Invitational last season, falling to Radford in the event’s quarterfinals. Led by head coach Tim Miles, the Spartans have 10 underclassmen on their 16-man roster.
LAST TIME AGAINST SAN JOSE STATE: In UNLV’s last meeting with San Jose State, earlier this season on Jan. 27 in San Jose, California, the Runnin’ Rebels used a huge second half to come back and win 77-65. The Runnin’ Rebels were led by Keylan Boone’s game-high-tying 18 points, while Dedan Thomas Jr. added 16 and Jackie Johnson III contributed 12. Luis Rodriguez had a game-high eight rebounds, while Thomas Jr. dished out a game-high-tying six assists with only one turnover. SJSU was led by Myron Amey Jr.’s 18 points and five rebounds. UNLV shot 80% from the field in the second half (16 of 20) and made 14 shots in a row to end the game. The Runnin’ Rebels outscored the Spartans 42-20 over the game’s final 14 minutes. UNLV was down as many as 12 points with six minutes to play in the first half.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Avery Johnson calling the action. Jon Sandler, former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas and worldwide on SiriusXM 392. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
