RUNNIN’ REBELS HOST NO. 22 UTAH STATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT

UNLV shot better than 50% from the field in its first three games of the MW season and is 7-1 at home this year.

UNLV has three players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Dedan Thomas Jr.’s 16.1 points per game. Jaden Henley, Jailen Bedford, Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry and Julian Rishwain are all averaging between 8.8 ppg and 12.0 ppg. Cherry leads in rebounding with 5.6 rpg and blocks with 1.4 bpg, while Thomas Jr. is the team’s assist leader with 4.4 apg and Rishwain leads in steals with 1.4 spg.

UNLV is in its fourth season under head coach Kevin Kruger. He has a career record of 67-47 (.588).

PROMOTIONS: Now through Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., fans can purchase a Family 4-Pack to Wednesday night’s game. Each Family 4-Pack includes four tickets to the game plus four chicken finger baskets starting at just $52 total. Purchase at UNLVtickets.com.

TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games are on sale at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.

ABOUT THE ROSTER: This season’s UNLV squad features six returners from last year’s team along with 10 newcomers. The newcomers are made up of four Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and five freshmen. UNLV has eight upperclassmen, including two sixth-year players. A total of six players on the roster are playing in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin’ Rebels returned two starters in sophomore guard Dedan Thomas Jr., who was the Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year last season and was named to this season’s preseason all-conference team, and senior forward Rob Whaley Jr. (currently injured) Forward Jalen Hill is also back for a sixth year of college after suffering a season-ending knee injury last January. Thomas Jr. led UNLV in scoring and assists last year with 13.6 and 5.1 per game, respectively, Whaley Jr. had averages of 7.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg, while Hill averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg in seven contests.

LAST TIME OUT: In Saturday’s loss at CSU, Jaden Henley and Dedan Thomas Jr. each scored 19 points for the Runnin’ Rebels. Colorado State shot 65.4% from the field in the first half (17 of 26), including 66.7% on 3-pointers (8 of 12) to take an 11-point lead at the half (46-35). UNLV trimmed its deficit to just six points at 58-52 with 10 minutes to go, but CSU pushed its lead to 19 points with 5:38 left.

ABOUT UTAH STATE: The Aggies have won all six of their Mountain West games this season after going 10-1 in non-conference play. Their only loss this season was at home to UC San Diego, 75-73. USU is coming off an 81-79 comeback win at home over Boise State on Saturday. Utah State is ranked 44th in KenPom and is 4-0 in true road games this season. The Aggies have two players averaging in double figures in scoring, Ian Martinez with 16.8 ppg and Mason Falslev at 16.4 ppg. Faslev leads in rebounding with 6.2 rpg, field-goal percentage at 53.7% (1st in the MW) and steals with 2.4 (1st in the MW). Drake Allen is the team’s assist leader with 3.9 apg. Utah State is ninth in the country in assists per game with 18.5 apg and 18th in field-goal percentage at 49.6. USU was predicted to finish sixth in the Mountain West this season in the preseason coaches’ poll, earning one of 26 first-place votes. Martinez was named to the preseason All-MW team. The Aggies had an overall record of 28-7 last season, finishing first in the MW with a league mark of 14-4. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round where they lost to No. 1-seeded Purdue to end their season. Utah State has six upperclassmen on its 14-man roster. Head coach Jerrod Calhoun is in his first year at Utah State. He had previously been the head coach at Fairmont State (2012-17) and Youngstown State (2017-24) and has a career record of 258-145 (.640).

BROADCAST INFO: Wednesday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with John Sadak and Avery Johnson calling the action. Matt Neverett, former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield will handle the call on radio, which may be heard on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas and worldwide on SiriusXM 388. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.