UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS: Runnin’ Rebels To Host No. 3 Arizona Tuesday Night At TMC

RUNNIN’ REBELS TO HOST NO. 3 ARIZONA TUESDAY NIGHT AT TMC

UNLV in midst of playing three top-15 teams in 16 days, toughest stretch in program history

The UNLV men’s basketball team will host No. 3 Arizona on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin’ Rebels are in the mist of their toughest stretch of schedule in program history as they are facing three top-15 teams in 16 days, with a trip to Wyoming also sandwiched in between. UNLV has never before faced three top-15 teams in such a short period.

The Runnin’ Rebels had won three straight games and five of six before falling to No. 14 Utah, 59-46, at the MGM Grand Showcase on Saturday night, in the program’s first game on the Las Vegas Strip.

UNLV, which had to replace all five starters from a year ago, has 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 17.3 ppg, which also ranks first in the Mountain West. Sophomore forward Christian Wood has six double-doubles this year, which ranks ninth in the country, and has averages of 12.9 ppg and team highs of 9.6 rpg and 3.1 bpg (10th in the country). Wood also leads the MW in rebounding and blocks. Freshman forward Goodluck Okonoboh is tied for the team lead in blocks at 3.1 per game, also 10th in the nation and tops in the conference. Senior guard Cody Doolin leads the squad and MW  with 4.9 apg and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.5, which is fifth-best in the country.

As a team, the Runnin’ Rebels are second in the nation in blocked shots (7.9 bpg) and are 21st in field-goal percentage defense (36.9).

Tuesday’s game against the Wildcats will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn and Doug Gottlieb calling the action, and Jamie Erdahl on the sidelines. The Wildcats are the highest-ranked team to play at the Thomas & Mack Center since No. 4/3 Cincinnati on Dec. 19, 1998. 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.

No. 3 Arizona (12-0, 0-0 Pac-12) 

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UNLV (7-3, 0-0 Mountain West)

DATE: Tuesday, December 23, 2014
TIME: 7:05 p.m.
SITE: Tarkanian Court, Thomas & Mack Center (18,500), Las Vegas
TV: CBS Sports Network – Carter Blackburn, Doug Gottlieb, Jamie Erdahl (sideline)

RADIO: ESPN Radio 1100 AM/100.9 FM (Jon Sandler, Robert Smith)
AUDIO: UNLV Gameday App & UNLVRebels.com