RUNNIN’ REBELS OPEN MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT HOME SATURDAY NIGHT
UNLV hosts Fresno State at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center
The UNLV men’s basketball team (6-5, 0-0) will be looking for its second straight win and third in four games as it opens Mountain West play on Saturday, Dec. 28 by hosting Fresno State (4-8, 0-1) at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Saturday’s game will be the first of the week for the Runnin’ Rebels, as they are coming off a 66-53 victory over UC Riverside last Saturday at home in their non-conference finale. Prior to that, UNLV suffered a heartbreaking 66-65 loss at then-No. 22 Dayton on Dec. 17 after defeating Pacific three days earlier (72-65) at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson.
UNLV has four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Dedan Thomas Jr.’s 16.5 points per game. Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry, Jaden Henley and Jailen Bedford are all averaging between 10.1 and 10.6 ppg, while Julian Rishwain is right behind at 9.7 ppg. Cherry leads in rebounding with 6.1 rpg, field-goal percentage with 65.3% and blocks with 1.8 bpg, while Thomas Jr. is the team’s assist leader with 4.1 apg and Hill and Rishwain are tied for the lead in steals with 1.5 spg apiece. Rishwain is the team’s top 3-point shooter at 42.6%.
UNLV is in its fourth season under head coach Kevin Kruger. He has a career record of 64-45.
PROMOTIONS: During the game, fans will have the chance to win with the 50/50 Rebel Raffle. Tickets start at just $5 with all proceeds benefiting UNLV basketball. Also, three-game Runnin’ Rebel mini-plans are on sale now. Three-game mini-plans include your choice of any three Runnin’ Rebel games at the Thomas & Mack Center starting at $36 per plan. Five-game mini-plans are also available.
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 in 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 last Saturday’s win over UC Riverside, Dedan Thomas Jr. led the Runnin’ Rebels with 15 points and five assists, while Bear Cherry added 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting with three blocks. Julian Rishwain led the team in rebounding with seven, while adding three steals, and Jaden Henley recorded a career-high-tying five steals. UNLV used a 10-0 run over a three-plus minute stretch deep into the second half to take a 12-point lead at 55-43 with eight minutes to go. The Runnin’ Rebels would eventually increase their advantage to as many as 18 points late in the game. UNLV shot 55.2% from the field (16 of 29) in the second half, while holding UC Riverside to just 24.3% (9 of 37).
ABOUT FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s contest having lost six of their last seven games. They are coming off an 86-69 home loss to Cal Baptist last Saturday, but prior to that they beat San Diego, 73-65, at home on Dec. 14. They opened Mountain West play on Dec. 4 with an 84-62 home loss to San Diego State. Fresno State has four players in double figures in scoring, led by Zaon Collins’ 13.4 ppg. Amar Augillard was averaging 13.3 ppg but recently left the team, while Elijah Price is the team’s leading rebounder at 8.3 rpg (3rd in the MW) and also leads in blocks (1.1 bpg). Collins also leads the team in assists with 3.9 apg and steals with 2.3 spg (1st in the MW, 32nd in the country). Fresno State was predicted to finish 10th in the Mountain West this season in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs had an overall record of 12-21 last season, finishing ninth in the MW with a league mark of 4-14. Fresno State has six upperclassmen on its 15-man roster. Head coach Vance Walberg is in his first year at the school and third overall as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level (2006-08 at Pepperdine). He has coached at all levels of the game, including in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings from 2012-16.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (digital channel 5.2 & 125 on Cox in Las Vegas, also available on YouTube TV) and the Mountain West Network with Matt Neverett, former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield calling the action. The trio will also provide the call on radio via simulcast, which may be heard on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas and worldwide on SiriusXM 386. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
LAST SEASON: The Runnin’ Rebels had their best season in over a decade in 2023-24 as they were invited to the postseason for the first time since 2013, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals and securing their first postseason win in 16 years. In his third season at the helm, Kruger led the squad to 21 wins for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign and guided the team to a 12-4 record over its final 16 games.
UNLV recorded its first win over a top-10 team in four years, its first in non-conference play in nine seasons and beat a total of four ranked teams in a single season for the first time in 11 years. 2023-24 Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year Dedan Thomas Jr. set the Mountain West’s assists record with 174, also leading the nation in assists among freshmen.
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Runnin' Rebels Open Mountain West Play At Home Saturday Night
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Runnin' Rebels Open Mountain West Play At Home Saturday Night