RUNNIN’ REBELS TO FACE NO. 14 UTAH AT MGM GRAND SATURDAY NIGHT
UNLV men’s basketball’s first game on Las Vegas Strip begins toughest stretch in program history
For the first time in program history, the UNLV men’s basketball team will be playing on the Las Vegas Strip as it competes in the 2014 MGM Grand Showcase on Saturday, Dec. 20. The event, which also features No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 16 Washington, will pit the Runnin’ Rebels against No. 14 Utah at 8:30 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Sooners, who are led by former UNLV head coach Lon Kruger, and Huskies will play at 6 p.m.
Saturday night will also open a stretch of games for UNLV against three top 15 teams in 16 days, with a game at Wyoming also sandwiched in between. The Runnin’ Rebels have never before faced three top-15 teams in such a short period, which makes this next period of the schedule the toughest in program history.
The Runnin’ Rebels have won three straight games and five of six after Wednesday night’s thrilling overtime win against Portland at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV found itself down by eight points with three-and-a-half minutes to play, but came back to force overtime with a shot at the buzzer before coming away victorious, 75-73.
The Runnin’ Rebels, who had to replace all five starters from a year ago, have mainly used a rotation this season that includes five freshmen, one sophomore and two seniors. Freshman guard Rashad Vaughn leads the team in scoring with an average of 17.5 ppg, which also ranks first in the Mountain West. Sophomore forward Christian Wood has six double-doubles this year, which ranks fifth in the country, and has averages of 13.4 ppg and team highs of 9.2 rpg and 3.2 bpg (eighth in the country). Wood also leads the MW in rebounding and blocks. Freshman forward Goodluck Okonoboh is second on the team in blocks at 2.8 per game, which ranks 24th in the nation. Senior guard Cody Doolin leads the squad and MW with 5.2 apg and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.2, which is third-best in the country.
As a team, the Runnin’ Rebels are third in the nation in blocked shots (7.9 bpg) and are 23rd in field-goal percentage defense (36.6).
Saturday’s MGM Grand Showcase doubleheader, which benefits Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society, will be televised nationally (Oklahoma/Washington on ESPNU and UNLV/Utah on ESPN2) with Dave Pasch and Sean Farnham calling the action. Jon Sandler and Robert Smith will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 AM/100.9 FM in Las Vegas. All internet links along with live stats will be available at UNLVRebels.com.
GAME #10
NO. 14 UTAH (7-2, 0-0 Pac-12)
vs.
UNLV (7-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
DATE: Saturday, December 20, 2014
TIME: 8:35 p.m.
SITE: MGM Grand Garden Arena (13,000), Las Vegas
TV: ESPN2 (Dave Pasch, Sean Farnham)
RADIO: ESPN Radio 1100 AM/100.9 FM (Jon Sandler, Robert Smith)
AUDIO: UNLV Gameday App & UNLVRebels.com
