RUNNIN’ REBELS HOST INTRASTATE RIVAL UNR SATURDAY NIGHT
Fans encouraged to wear red, 3,000 rally towels to be given away for 7 p.m. game
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The UNLV men’s basketball team will play at home for a second straight time as it hosts intrastate rival UNR on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game is part of the Silver State Series, presented by America First Credit Union.
PROMOTIONS: The game will follow the UNLV women’s basketball team, which also hosts UNR, at 2 p.m. in the Cox Pavilion. Fans are encouraged to wear red for both games. The men’s game will be the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers game. Rebel Fest, presented by Toyota, will begin at 5 p.m. and have music, inflatables, free Raising Cane’s for students,and more. 3,000 red rally towels will be given away at the door to all fans and the first 100 students in attendance will win Future concert tickets. Cuuhraig will perform at halftime and fans will have an opportunity to take photos on the concourse all game long with both the Fremont Cannon and the NCAA Championship trophy.
LAST TIME OUT: Four Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures as the Runnin’ Rebels (13-7 overall, 2-6 Mountain West) snapped a four-game losing streak with an 86-72 victory over Wyoming Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. EJ Harkless led all scorers with 28 points, while Keshon Gilbert and Jordan McCabe each contributed 12, and Keyshawn Hall added 10. UNLV shot 53.7% from the field (29 of 54) and 55.0% on 3-pointers (11 of 20). It marked the sixth game this season (6-0) that the Runnin’ Rebels made at least half their shots in a game. With the win, UNLV improved to 20-1 against Wyoming at the Thomas & Mack Center over its last 21 meetings.
THIS SEASON: Harkless leads the team in scoring with 17.0 ppg (4th in MW) and is contributing 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game (9th in MW). Gilbert is second in scoring at 12.4 ppg with a team-leading 3.8 apg (7th in MW) and 2.0 spg (3rd in MW). Luis Rodriguez, who missed Tuesday’s game because of injury, is third in scoring with 12.1 ppg, while leading the team in both rebounding (5.7 rpg, 10th in MW) and steals (2.2 spg, 2nd in MW, 30th in the country). David Muoka is second on the team in rebounding (4.9 rpg) and leads the squad in blocks with 1.4 bpg (5th in MW).
This season’s Runnin’ Rebel squad features six returners and nine newcomers, including six transfers from the Division I level. The 15-man roster is made up of 10 upperclassmen.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: UNR (16-5, 6-2) has won eight of its last 10 games, including its most recent contest at home against No. 25 New Mexico (97-94) in double overtime on Monday night. The Wolf Pack are led in scoring by Jard Lucas with 17.1 ppg (3rd in MW), Kenan Blackshear with 14.9 ppg (9th in MW) and Will Baker with 13.7 ppg. Darrion Williams leads the team in rebounding with 7.5 (5th in MW), while Blackshear is the team’s assist leader at 4.6 apg (4th in MW) and steals with 1.8 spg (6th in MW). UNR is 4-4 in true road games this season. Last season, the Wolf Pack were 13-18 overall and finished eighth in the MW with a 6-12 league mark. This season’s team was picked to finish ninth out of 11 in the MW’s preseason poll. UNR’s 14-man roster includes seven upperclassmen. The Wolf Pack are coached by Steve Alford, who is in his fourth season at the school with a record of 62-43 (.590) and his 32nd season overall as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 659-342 (.658).
TICKETS: UNLV men’s basketball season ticket pricing has been adjusted for the 2022-23 season, with affordability and family-friendly value at the forefront of the changes. Tickets may be purchased online at UNLVtickets.com, on the phone by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or in person at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday’s game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Dan Dickau calling the action. Jon Sandler, former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield (sidelines) will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas. All streaming links and live stats will be available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App
