RUNNIN’ REBELS TO HOST NO. 22 COLORADO STATE SATURDAY
UNLV has won six of last seven games; 5 p.m. contest is also annual Kids Day
- Game Notes vs Colorado State (PDF) | 2023-24 Schedule
- Statistics (PDF) | Statistics (Web)
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The UNLV men’s basketball team, winner of six of its last seven games, will return to the Thomas & Mack Center to host No. 22 Colorado State on Saturday Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. The contest is also the Runnin’ Rebels’ annual Kids Day, featuring multiple promotions.
PROMOTIONS: Saturday will be Kids Day, presented by Valley Bank of Nevada. The fun will begin at Tarkanian Plaza with games and inflatables for kids starting at 4 p.m. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, the first 1,000 kids will be able to pick up a free UNLV sticker. Special $20 lower bowl and $5 balcony tickets are available through UNLVtickets.com until Friday, Feb. 23, at 11:59 p.m.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV (15-10, 8-5) dominated Air Force in a 72-43 road win Wednesday. The blowout victory avenged the Runnin’ Rebels’ loss from earlier this season to the Falcons and gave them their sixth win in their last seven games.The Runnin’ Rebels were led by Rob Whaley Jr.’s 15 points and seven rebounds, while Brooklyn Hicks scored a career-high 12 points and Keylan Boone added 11 points. Kalib Boone led the Runnin’ Rebels in rebounds and blocks with eight and three, respectively. UNLV outscored Air Force in points in the paint 40-22 and out-rebounded the Falcons 44-19.
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.7 ppg), Keylan Boone (12.1 ppg), Kalib Boone (11.8 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (11.4 ppg) and Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Rodriguez leads the team in rebounds (6.6 rpg, 8th in MW) and steals (1.7 spg, 2nd in MW), Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (5.8 apg, 4th in MW, 25th in nation), and Boone leads in blocks (1.7 bpg, 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 return 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: No. 22 Colorado State (20-7, 8-6) won 13 of its first 14 games this season. The Rams enter Saturday’s game having lost two of their last three: a 71-55 loss at San Diego State on Feb. 13, a 75-55 home win over Utah State on Feb. 17 and a 68-66 loss at New Mexico on Wednesday. CSU is 14-1 at home this season, 3-6 on the road and 3-0 on neutral courts. Four CSU players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Isaiah Stevens’ 16.3 ppg (6th in MW). Stevens also leads in assists (7.4 apg, 1st in MW, 4th in nation), while Nique Clifford leads in rebounding (7.2 rpg, 6th in MW) and steals (1.4 spg). As a team, the Rams are second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.81), third in assists per game (18.9) and 10th in field-goal percentage (49.5). Colorado State went 15-18 overall last season, including 6-12 in MW play to finish tied for eighth. Led by head coach Niko Medved, CSU has eight upperclassmen on its 15-man roster.
LAST TIME AGAINST COLORADO STATE: UNLV led for over 29 minutes of the game, but couldn’t hold on at the end falling to Colorado State 78-75 earlier this season on Jan. 19 in Fort Collins. Four Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures, led by Keylan Boone’s game-high-tying 21 points and game-high eight rebounds. Kalib Boone added 14 points, while Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 11 with a game-high eight assists, and Rob Whaley Jr. added 10 points. Colorado State also had four players in double figures, led by Nique Clifford’s 21 points and seven rebounds. Isaiah Stevens scored 18 points with seven assists and six rebounds, making four 3-pointers. UNLV held a 68-63 lead with 4:51 to play, but an 11-2 run by CSU over the next 2:46 put the Runnin’ Rebels behind by four, 74-70. UNLV cut it to two points but four CSU free throws from there put it out of reach. After not committing a turnover in the first half, UNLV committed 11 over the game’s final 20 minutes, which turned into 18 Colorado State points.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis and Bob Wenzel 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 386. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
