RUNNIN’ REBELS HOST BOSTON COLLEGE SUNDAY IN SECOND-ROUND NIT GAME
Game set for 6:30 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center, tickets available at UNLVtickets.com
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The UNLV men’s basketball team, which has won 11 of its last 14 games and recorded its first postseason victory in 16 years with its first-round National Invitation Tournament win at No. 2 seed Princeton on Wednesday, will host Boston College in the NIT’s second round on Sunday, March 24 at the Thomas & Mack Center. The 6:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
TICKETS: A limited number of reserved tickets remain to Sunday’s game. Lower bowl general admission tickets are just $20 when purchased before game day, and parking is available for just $10. All may be purchased online at the NIT page on UNLVtickets.com.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV (20-12) won its first-round NIT game at No. 2 seed Princeton, 84-77, on Wednesday. It marked the Runnin’ Rebels’ first postseason appearance in 11 years. Junior Rob Whaley Jr., fifth-year senior Keylan Boone and fifth-year senior Justin Webster combined for 54 points on 21 of 28 shooting to lead UNLV to its first postseason win since 2008. Whaley Jr. scored a career-high 21 points on a perfect 8 of 8 from the field with nine rebounds, while Boone contributed 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting with a game-high 11 boards for his fourth double-double of the season, Webster added 15 points on 5 of 7 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers, and junior Shane Nowell added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Princeton finished its season with an overall record of 24-5 and entered the contest with a 12-0 home mark this season and a 37-4 record over its previous 41 games at Jadwin Gymnasium (since 2021-22). UNLV shot a blistering 68.2% in the second half, finishing the game at 60.8% from the field and made almost half its 3-point attempts (8 of 17).
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season: Dedan Thomas Jr. (13.8 ppg), who earned Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year and second-team All-MW honors, Keylan Boone (12.6 ppg), who was named third team All-MW, fifth-year senior Kalib Boone (11.1 ppg), who was honorable mention All-MW, fifth-year senior Luis Rodriguez (10.7 ppg), who was named to the All-MW Defensive Team, and fifth-year senior Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Keylan Boone leads the team in rebounds (6.8 rpg, 8th in MW), Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (5.2 apg, 6th in MW, 43rd in nation), Kalib Boone leads in blocks (1.6 bpg, 2nd in MW) and Rodriguez leads in steals (1.6 spg, 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 returned 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: Boston College (20-15) finished 11th in the 15-team Atlantic Coast Conference this season with an 8-12 league mark. The Eagles enter Sunday’s game having won five of their last six games with the only loss during that span coming to Virginia in overtime in the ACC Tournament’s Quarterfinals. BC advanced to the NIT’s second round after winning at No. 3 seed Providence, 62-57, on Tuesday. Claudell Harris Jr. led the Eagles with 17 points and made 3 of 4 3-pointers. Four BC players are averaging double figures in scoring: Quinten Post (16.9 ppg), Harris Jr. (13.8 ppg), Jaeden Zackery (11.4 ppg) and Devin McGlockton (10.2 ppg). Post also leads the team in rebounds (8.1 rpg) and blocks (1.7 bpg). Zackery is the team’s assist leader (4.3 apg) as well as steals (1.8 spg). The Eagles are 7-6 this season in true road games. Post ranks 42nd nationally in double-doubles with 11 on the season. BC went 16-17 overall and finished 10th in the ACC at 9-11 last season. Led by head coach Earl Grant, BC has just five upperclassmen on its 16-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO: Sunday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with John Schriffen and Perry Clark 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 383. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.