RUNNIN’ REBELS FACE FLORIDA STATE IN SUNSHINE SLAM MONDAY
UNLV men’s basketball’s 2:30 p.m. PT game vs. Seminoles will be televised on CBS Sports Network
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The UNLV men’s basketball team, winner of two straight games, will open play at the Sunshine Slam against Florida State on Monday, Nov. 20. The 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT game at the Ocean Center will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
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).
EARLY SEASON RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: After three games, four UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring in Kalib Boone (14.0 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (13.3 ppg), Jalen Hill (13.3 ppg) and Dedan Thomas Jr. (11.7 ppg). Hill leads the team in rebounds (8.7 rpg), while Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (6.3 apg). Over the last two games, Thomas Jr. has recorded 14 assists with zero turnovers.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV won its second straight game in its first on the road this season at Pepperdine (82-68) on Friday night. Five Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures, led by Kalib Boone’s 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 17 points with five assists, Jalen Hill added 15, Jackie Johnson III had 13 and Luis Rodriguez scored 10. UNLV’s bench outscored the Waves’ 32-2 for the game.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Florida State has started the 2023-24 season with a 2-1 record, with home wins over Kennesaw State and Central Michigan (both with identical scores of 94-67). The Seminoles are coming off an 89-68 road loss at Florida on Friday. Four FSU players are averaging double figures in scoring: Cameron Corhen (12.7 ppg), Darin Green Jr. (12.7 ppg), Jamir Watkins (11.3 ppg) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (10.7 ppg). Corhen and Watkins are both at 5.0 rebounds per contest, while Jalen Warley leads in assists with 3.7 per game. Florida State finished last season with an overall record of 9-23, placing 12th in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 7-13 league mark. The Seminoles were picked to finish 11th in their conference in this year’s preseason poll. Led by head coach Leonard Harmilton, Florida State has 12 upperclassmen on its 20-member roster.
BROADCAST INFO: Monday’s game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Tom James and Mike O’Donnell 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. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
LAST SEASON: The Runnin’ Rebels finished the 2022-23 season with 19 wins. UNLV won two games over ranked teams, which marked the first time the program had won multiple games against top 25 teams in the same season since 2015-16. UNLV raced out to a hot start, going 11-1 in non-conference play after winning its first 10 games. The non-conference record was its best in 32 years and the 10-0 start was its best in 34 seasons. When the team was 10-0 it was receiving votes in both top 25 polls. EJ Harkless was named Second Team All-Mountain West when conference play concluded.