RUNNIN’ REBELS TO HEADLINE 2013 CONTINENTAL TIRE LAS VEGAS CLASSIC
After two games on campus, the final two rounds will be held at the Orleans Arena Dec. 22-23
The UNLV men’s basketball team will be part of the 13th Annual Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, scheduled for December 22-23 at the Orleans Arena.
Potential Orleans Arena matchups on Dec. 22-23 for the Runnin’ Rebels are Mississippi State from the Southeastern Conference, Santa Clara from the West Coast Conference and South Florida formerly of the Big East Conference (now named American Athletic Conference). Also in the field are Florida Gulf Coast, Florida A&M, Radford and Sacred Heart.
The last time UNLV played in a holiday tournament at the Orleans Arena it defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina in head coach Dave Rice’s first season (2011 Las Vegas Invitational).
“We are excited to again be involved in a holiday tournament in Las Vegas,” Rice said. “We are always looking for opportunities to play games in front of our fans and enjoy playing at the Orleans Arena when we can.”
The Runnin’ Rebels played in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament this past season and their sixth in the last seven years. Only 12 programs nationally have matched that and it is tops in the Mountain West over that span.
Rice led UNLV to another 25-win season in 2012-13 and the 51 wins by the program over the last two seasons is the most ever by a UNLV coach after his first two years leading the program (Jerry Tarkanian had 44 wins in his first two years).
UNLV, which won four games over ranked teams last year and ranked in the top-10 nationally in assists, rebounding and blocks, returns three starters and seven players overall from that team. Three additional players redshirted last year and five newcomers will be welcomed for 2013-14.
Past champions of the Las Vegas Classic include Kansas State (2006), Alabama (2007), Creighton (2008), BYU (2009), New Mexico (2010), Baylor (2011) and Colorado State (2012).
Each team will play four games in the Classic – the first two at on-campus sites and the final two rounds at the Orleans Arena.
Tickets will be available at the Orleans Arena box office beginning at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 3 (702-284-7777 or 888-234-2334) and via the internet at www.orleansarena.com. Tickets may also be purchased through each participating school’s athletic ticket office at a later date. Information will be sent to UNLV season ticket holders.
