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UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS: Runnin’ Rebels Travel To Air Force For Thursday Game

RUNNIN’ REBELS TRAVEL TO AIR FORCE FOR THURSDAY GAME

UNLV looking for its second straight road win at 6 p.m. PT

 

The UNLV men’s basketball team will be looking for its second straight road win on Thursday, Jan. 20 as it travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to face Air Force at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT at Clune Arena.

 

It is a rescheduled game as the original meeting was supposed to occur on Jan. 8, however, because of COVID-19-related issues, it was postponed. This game marks the second for UNLV in its current stretch of four games in a week’s time.

 

LAST TIME OUT: The Runnin’ Rebels played their first road game in 44 days on Monday as they defeated San Jose State, 81-56, in San Jose, California. UNLV shot 58.6% in the first half, racing out to a 44-29 advantage at the break. Four Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures, led by junior forward Donovan Williams’ 20 points.

 

THIS SEASON: Senior guard Bryce Hamilton leads the Runnin’ Rebels (10-7, 2-2) in scoring this season at 18.2 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Mountain West, with Williams second at 14.3 ppg and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage at 50.3. Senior forward Royce Hamm Jr. is first in the MW in rebounding with 10.0 per contest (11th in the country) and is also averaging 9.2 ppg and 0.9 blocks per game. Senior guard Jordan McCabe leads the team in assists at 4.9 apg (fifth in the MW) and is second in the conference and 10th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (3.1).

 

UNLV has had 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.

 

UNLV’s 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.

 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Air Force (8-7, 1-3) opened Mountain West play with a 49-47 home win over Utah State on Dec. 29 but has lost three straight since, most recently Tuesday night at Boise State (62-56). A.J. Walker leads the Falcons in scoring as he is the only player averaging double figures (16.1 ppg). Ethan Taylor is the team’s rebound and assist leader with 5.6 rpg and 4.1 apg. Air Force is 5-1 at home this season and ranks 23rd in the country in scoring defense (61.0 ppg) and 24th in 3-point field-goal defense (28.9%).

 

BROADCAST INFO: Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network. 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 are available at UNLVRebels.com.

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UNLV MEN'S BASKETBALL NEWS: Runnin' Rebels Travel To Air Force For Thursday Game
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UNLV MEN'S BASKETBALL NEWS: Runnin' Rebels Travel To Air Force For Thursday Game