RUNNIN’ REBELS BACK AT THOMAS & MACK CENTER AGAINST OMAHA WEDNESDAY NIGHT
UNLV to play at home for first time in 17 days; 7 p.m. game is Fan Appreciation Night
- Game Notes vs. Omaha (PDF) | 2021-22 Schedule
- 2021-22 Statistics (PDF)| 2021-22 Statistics (Web)
- @UNLVAthletics | @TheRunninRebels
- Tickets
The UNLV men’s basketball team will return to the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in 17 days to host Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
It will be Fan Appreciation Night, as select fans in attendance will be treated to surprise gifts throughout the game. Fans will also want to stay in their seats during halftime, as the All-Star Stunt Dogs will give an entertaining performance.
The Runnin’ Rebels have played each of their last four games away from the TMC as the facility hosted the National Finals Rodeo. UNLV has won two straight, both at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. Senior guard Bryce Hamilton averaged 25.5 ppg last week over the two contests – double-digit wins against Seattle (76-56) and Hartford (95-78) – shooting 66.7% (20 of 30). Hamilton and junior forward Donovan Williams scored a combined 65 points in the win over the Hawks on Saturday with Hamilton scoring a season-high 33 and Williams adding a career-high 32.
Hamilton leads the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring this season at 17.8 points per game, with Williams second at 11.9 ppg. Hamm Jr. is second in the Mountain West in rebounding with 9.7 per contest (20th in the country) and is also averaging 8.3 ppg and 1.2 bpg. Senior guard Jordan McCabe leads the team in assists at 4.8 apg (fifth in the MW) and is second in the conference and 18th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (3.4).
UNLV has an entirely new look this year with nine transfers – eight coming from the Division I level, including four from Big 12 programs. Ten of the Runnin’ Rebels’ 13 scholarship players had yet to play in a game in a UNLV uniform before this season began.
The returners include Hamilton and senior guard Marvin Coleman and the 15-man roster includes 13 upperclassmen. Hamilton was selected to the 2021-22 Preseason All-Mountain West Team in October. Initially declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft, the second-team All-MW honoree last season who led the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring with 17.9 points per game decided to return to the program.
After winning its season opener vs. Hastings, Omaha (1-9) has lost each of its last nine games. The team has played four straight at home and is coming off an 87-73 defeat to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Three Mavericks players are averaging over nine points per game: Nick Ferrarini (9.9), Kyle Luedtke (9.3) Darrius Hughes (9.1). Luedtke is the team’s leading rebounder (4.8 rpg), while Felix Lemetti is tops in assists (2.2).
Wednesday’s game will be televised locally in Las Vegas on Cox YurView channel 14/1014 with Matt Neverett and Steve Cofield calling the action. It will also be available online for free through the Mountain West Network. Jon Sandler, and former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com.
Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or by visiting the TMC Box Office.
