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Runnin’ Rebels Travel To Boise State For Sunday Night Game

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RUNNIN’ REBELS TRAVEL TO BOISE STATE FOR SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

 

6 p.m. PT contest to be televised on FS1; UNLV looks to snap two-game losing streak

 

The UNLV men’s basketball team (16-10 overall, 5-9 Mountain West) will head back out on the road and play at Boise State on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT.

 

LAST TIME OUT: In their last game, which was Tuesday night at home against San Jose State, the Runnin’ Rebels lost 75-66. EJ Harkless led the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring with 19 points, while Keshon Gilbert had 13 and Justin Webster added 12.

 

THIS SEASON: Harkless leads the team in scoring with 18.3 ppg (2nd in MW) and is contributing 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game (8th in MW). Gilbert is second in scoring at 12.6 ppg with a team-leading 3.5 apg (10th in MW) and 2.0 spg (2nd in MW). Luis Rodriguez is third in scoring with 11.2 ppg, while leading the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg). He is second on the squad in steals (1.9 spg, 3rd in MW). David Muoka is third on the team in rebounding (4.5 rpg) and leads the squad in blocks with 1.3 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: Boise State (20-6, 10-3) has won five of its last six games and two in a row with its current win streak consisting of a home win over Wyoming (75-63) on Feb. 11 and a road victory against Colorado State (80-78) State (63-53) on Wednesday. The Broncos, who are tied for second in the MW, have five players averaging in double figures in scoring led by Tyson Degenhart with 14.6 ppg (9th in MW). Marcus Shaver Jr., who is tied second in scoring with 13.4 ppg, is the team’s leading rebounder at 6.1 rpg (7th in MW) and also leads in assists with 4.1 apg (5th in MW) and steals at 1.6 spg (5th in MW). Boise State, who is receiving a vote in the Associated Press, ranks 14th in the country in 3-point percentage defense (29.4) and 18th in scoring defense (61.9). The Broncos own an 11-1 record at home this season with their only loss coming to South Dakota State in their season opener. Boise State is the defending Mountain West champions as it went 27-8 overall and 15-3 in the league last season before winning the conference tournament. The Broncos ended their season in the NCAA Tournament’s first round against Memphis. This season’s team was picked to finish third out of 11 in the MW’s preseason poll. Boise State’s 16-man roster includes eight upperclassmen. The Broncos are coached by Leon Rice, who is in his 13th season at the school with a career record of 264-151 (.636).

 

LAST MEETING: The last meeting between the two teams, which took place in Las Vegas earlier this season on Jan. 11, Boise State won 84-66. Three Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures, led by Keshon Gilbert’s 14 points. Justin Webster added 13 and EJ Harkless contributed 12. Five players scored in double figures for the Broncos. Tyson Degenhart and Chibuzo Agbo each scored 17 points and combined to shoot 14 of 19 from the field. Degenhart added 12 rebounds and six assists. Boise State shot 71.4% (20 of 28) from the field and 61.5% on 3-pointers (8 of 13) in the second half and finished the game at 56.4% and 53.8%, respectively. UNLV took a 33-31 lead into halftime, but Boise State began the second half on a 14-3 run and led by 16 with 11 minutes to play. The Runnin’ Rebels cut their deficit to six points but couldn’t get closer.

 

BROADCAST INFO: Sunday’s game will be televised on FS1 with David Gascon and Terence Oglesby 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.