RUNNIN’ REBELS BACK HOME TO HOST AIR FORCE TUESDAY NIGHT
Coaches vs. Cancer game is scheduled for 8 p.m.; First 1,500 fans will receive free pom pom
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- Statistics (PDF) | Statistics (Web)
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The UNLV men’s basketball team (9-8, 2-3) will return home to the Thomas & Mack Center to host Air Force (7-10, 0-5) on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. It will be the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game and is being presented by Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
PROMOTIONS: All students are invited to get FREE Raising Cane’s on Tuesday at Runnin’ Rebel Fest while supplies last. Because of potential weather, Runnin’ Rebel Fest will move into the Cox Pavilion concourse with doors opening at 6 p.m. Additionally, the first 1,500 fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center will be able to pick up a FREE pom pom courtesy of Comprehensive Cancer Centers, and students will have a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Wu-Tang Clan at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas during the game. $2 beer will be also available for fans 21+ through halftime.
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 WEEK: UNLV split its road trip last week, winning at Boise State (68-64) on Tuesday and falling at Colorado State (78-75) on Friday. The win over the Broncos snapped their 22-game home win streak, which was the nation’s longest (active). Rob Whaley Jr. led UNLV in scoring with a career-high 18 points in that contest. In the close loss against the Rams, Keylan Boone was UNLV’s leading scorer with 21 points.
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in Kalib Boone (13.3 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (12.6 ppg), Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.0 ppg), Keylan Boone (11.2 ppg) and Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Rodriguez leads the team in rebounds (7.0 rpg, 6th in MW) and steals (2.0, 1st in MW), Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (6.3 apg, 11th in nation), and Boone leads in field-goal percentage (62.9, 13th 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: Air Force comes to Las Vegas having lost eight straight games. Most recently, the Falcons fell in overtime at Colorado State (78-69) on Tuesday and at home to New Mexico (85-66) on Saturday. Three AFA players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Rytis Petraitis’ 17.3 ppg and Ethan Taylor’s 16.6 ppg. Kellan Boylan is the team’s rebounding leader (6.4 rpg), Jeffrey Mills leads in assists (3.0 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), and Beau Becker leads in field-goal percentage (52.0%). Nationally, Taylor is third in the country in 3-pointers made per game at 3.5. Air Force went 14-18 overall last season, including 5-13 in MW play to finish 10th. Led by head coach Joe Scott, the Falcons have 13 underclassmen on their 20-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO: Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Jordan Kent and Pete Gillen 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 385. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
