RUNNIN’ REBELS AT FRESNO STATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
UNLV has won four straight; 8 p.m. game to be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network
- GameNotesat Fresno State (PDF) | 2023-24 Schedule
- Statistics (PDF) | Statistics (Web)
- @UNLVAthletics | @TheRunninRebels
- Buy Tickets
The UNLV men’s basketball team, which has won four straight Mountain West games for the first time in four years, will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Fresno State. The 8 p.m. game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV (13-9, 6-4) is coming off an 80-77 road win at then-No. 25 New Mexico on Saturday night, sweeping the regular-season series with the Lobos. It was the Runnin’ Rebels’ second win of the season against a ranked opponent, was their third straight win over New Mexico and was their fourth win at the Pit in the last five meetings. UNLV has also now won 10 of 11 overall against the Lobos, who lost at home for just the second time this season. UNLV freshman guard Dedan Thomas Jr. scored a career-high 25 points on 8 of 12 from the field, adding four assists. He was named the MW Freshman of the Week for the second straight time and third overall. Rob Whaley Jr. added 16 points, while Kalib Boone contributed 11.
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.5 ppg), Kalib Boone (12.3 ppg), Keylan Boone (11.7 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (11.7 ppg) and Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Rodriguez leads the team in rebounds (6.9 rpg, 8th in MW) and steals (1.8, 2nd in MW), Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (6.1 apg, 15th in nation), and Boone leads in field-goal percentage (59.9, 24th in nation) and 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: Fresno State (11-13, 4-7) has won two straight games: at San Jose State (69-57) on Feb. 6 and at Air Force (68-66) on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 7-5 at home this season. Isaiah Hill leads the team in scoring with 12.3 ppg and assists with 6.6 apg (3rd in MW). Enoch Boakye is the team’s rebounding leader at 8.5 rpg (4th in MW) as well as in blocks with (1.3 bpg, 6th in MW). Fresno State ranks 42nd in the country in field goal percentage at 47.6. The Bulldogs went 11-20 overall last season, including 6-12 in MW play to finish tied for eighth in the league standings. Led by head coach Justin Hutson, who was a UNLV assistant coach from 2011-13, Fresno State has 11 upperclassmen on its 15-man roster.
LAST TIME AGAINST FRESNO STATE: UNLV defeated Fresno State earlier this season on Jan. 30 at the Thomas & Mack Center, 78-69. The Boone brothers combined to score 36 points for the Runnin’ Rebels. Kalib Boone had a game-high 21 points with three blocks, while Keylan Boone recorded a double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Luis Rodriguez and Dedan Thomas Jr. each added 12 points, with Thomas Jr. dishing out six assists. UNLV never trailed in the game. The Runnin’ Rebels scored the game’s first 10 points – all by Rodriguez – and led 20-5 halfway through the first half. The Bulldogs eventually cut the score to a one possession game on multiple occasions, but UNLV answered every time.
BROADCAST INFO: Wednesday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan and Michael O’Donnell 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 391. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
