UNLV has two players averaging double figures in scoring: Dedan Thomas Jr. with 16.0 points per game (7th in MW) and Jaden Henley with 12.0 ppg. Jailen Bedford, Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry. Julian Rishwain and Jalen Hill are all averaging between 9.5 ppg and 8.2 ppg. Cherry leads in rebounding with 5.3 rpg and blocks with 1.4 bpg (4th in MW), while Thomas Jr. is the team’s assist leader with 4.7 apg (3rd in MW) and Rishwain leads in steals with 1.5 spg.
UNLV is in its fourth season under head coach Kevin Kruger. He has a career record of 69-51 (.575).
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 from last year’s team 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 of 2024 (in the MW opener at San Diego State). 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 71-65 loss at UNR, UNLV trailed by 12 points early in the second half, but used a 14-4 run to cut its deficit to just two at 50-48 with a little over 10 minutes to go. It was extremely tight from there as a Jaden Henley 3-pointer gave the Runnin’ Rebels a 57-55 lead with seven minutes to go and later, back-to-back 3-pointers by Julien Rishwain tied the score at 63-63 with 2:30 left. A Dedan Thomas Jr. jumper tied the game at 65-65 with 1:17 remaining, but UNLV did not score again as the Wolf Pack finished the game on a 6-0 run. Henley scored 14 points, while Bear Cherry and Thomas Jr. each had 12. Cherry was 4 of 5 from the field. Jailen Bedford added nine points and Jalen Hill contributed eight. Pape N’Diaye led the team in rebounding with five, while Henley and Rishwain each recorded three steals. UNLV committed 15 turnovers, which led to 17 points for UNR.
ABOUT BOISE STATE: The Broncos have won two straight games but are 2-2 in their last four. They are coming off an 82-60 home win over Fresno State on Saturday. Boise State is ranked 51st in KenPom and is 2-4 in true road games this season. The Broncos have four players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Tyson Degenhart with 17.7 ppg (3rd in the MW). Degenhart also leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and in field-goal percentage (52.0, 2nd in MW). San Jose State transfer Alvaro Cardenas leads in assists at 6.8 apg (1st in MW) and steals with 1.6 spg, while O’Mar Stanley leads the team in blocks with 1.0 bpg. The Broncos are 14th in the country in rebound margin at 8.0 per game. Cardenas is eighth in the nation in assists. Boise State was predicted to win the Mountain West this season in the preseason coaches’ poll, earning 19 of 26 first-place votes. Degenhart was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year and to the preseason All-MW team, while Stanley and Cardenas were also selected. The Broncos had an overall record of 22-11 last season, finishing tied for second in the MW with a league mark of 13-5. They lost in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four to Colorado to end their season. Boise State has seven upperclassmen on its 15-man roster. Head coach Leon Rice is in his 15th year at the school with a career record of 305-173 (.638).
LAST TIME VS. BOISE STATE: In the season’s first meeting between the two teams on Jan. 7, which Boise State won 81-59, Jailen Bedford scored a team-high 11 points off the bench for the Runnin’ Rebels, while Jaden Henley and Dedan Thomas Jr. each added 10. Jalen Hill and Bear Cherry both scored eight. Boise State used a 10-0 run over an almost three-minute span to take a 27-16 lead with 8:19 left in the first half. The Broncos closed the half on a 14-2 run to take a 43-24 lead at the break. Boise State out-rebounded UNLV 38-21 and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds that turned into 16 second-chance points. Boise State also scored 20 points off of 14 UNLV turnovers and led in points in the paint, 40-22. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Runnin’ Rebels.
BROADCAST INFO: Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis and Dan Dickau calling the action. Matt Neverett and former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry will handle the call on radio, which may be heard on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas and worldwide on SiriusXM 387. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.