RUNNIN’ REBELS HOST NEW MEXICO TUESDAY IN MOUNTAIN WEST HOME OPENER
Game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on FS1
- Game Notes vs. New Mexico (PDF) | 2023-24 Schedule
- Statistics (PDF) | Statistics (Web)
- @UNLVAthletics | @TheRunninRebels
- Buy Tickets
The UNLV men’s basketball team (7-6, 0-1) will host New Mexico (13-2, 1-1) in its Mountain West home opener on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the Thomas & Mack Center. The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally on FS1.
PROMOTIONS: Tuesday night’s game is presented by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). The first 1,500 fans will have an opportunity to receive a free t-shirt courtesy of SNWA and $2 beers will be available through halftime.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games are on sale now at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
LAST TIME OUT: The Runnin’ Rebels lost their conference opener on Saturday at San Diego State, 72-61. Luis Rodriguez and Dedan Thomas Jr. each scored 13 points. Thomas Jr. added a game-high five assists with only one turnover and recorded two steals. Keylan Boone collected a team-high six rebounds. UNLV had won four of its previous five games entering MW play.
RUNNIN’ REBEL LEADERS: Four UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in Luis Rodriguez (12.5 ppg), Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.3 ppg), Kalib Boone (12.1 ppg) and Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg). Keylan Boone leads the team in rebounds (7.7 rpg), Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (6.2 apg, 13th in nation), Boone leads in field-goal percentage (65.0, 9th in nation) and blocks (1.8 bpg, 1st in MW) and Rodriguez is the team’s steals leader (2.0 spg, 1st in MW). Hill missed six games with a wrist injury and returned at San Diego State, but left late in the half after suffering a knee injury.
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: New Mexico enters Tuesday’s game having won 12 of its last 13 games. The Lobos had won 11 straight contests before falling in their Mountain West opener at Colorado State on Jan. 2. UNM is coming off a 77-60 win at home over Wyoming on Saturday. Three New Mexico players are averaging double figures in scoring: Donovan Dent (16.6 ppg), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (16.6 ppg), Jaelen House (14.6 ppg) and JT Toppin (12.3 ppg). Toppin and Nelly Joseph both lead in rebounding (7.7 rpg), while Dent is the team’s assist leader (6.2 apg). House leads in steals (2.9 spg). As a team, UNM ranks in the nation’s top 25 in turnover margin (4th), steals per game (11th), turnovers forced per game (14th), scoring margin (23rd) and fastbreak points (24th). Toppin is third in the country in field-goal percentage (67.5) and Dent is 14th in assists per game. UNM went 22-12 overall last season, including 8-10 in MW play to finish sixth. The Lobos ended their season with a home loss in the first round of the NIT to Utah Valley. Led by head coach Richard Pitino, New Mexico has eight upperclassmen on its 14-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO: Tuesday night’s game will be televised nationally on FS1 with Trent Rush and Nick Bahe 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 389. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
