Jan. 2, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV will be home for its fifth straight game at the Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) as it opens Mountain West Conferece play with Wyoming on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7:35 p.m. The game will be televised live on SportsWest Las Vegas One/Cable 39 in Las Vegas) with Dave McCann and Blaine Fowler providing the commentary. The game may be heard live in Las Vegas on KBAD 920 AM (ESPN Radio) and worldwide on the internet at UNLVRebels.com with Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick calling the action.

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Sat., Jan. 5Wyoming at UNLV7:35 p.m. PST

Game at Thomas & Mack Center (18,500), Las Vegas, Nev., Game will be televised live on SportsWest (Las Vegas One/Cable 39 in Las Vegas), Game may be heard live on KBAD 920 AM (ESPN Radio) in Las Vegas and worldwide on the internet at UNLVRebels.com

THE RUNNIN' REBELS

UNLV (7-4) has won four of its last five games and five of its last seven. The Runnin' Rebels are 6-1 at home this year. UNLV is under new leadership as Charlie Spoonhour is in his first year running the Rebel program. UNLV returns nine players and welcomes seven new faces to this year's roster. Marcus Banks leads the team in scsoring with 17.6 ppg, assists with 3.1 per game and steals with 2.5. Dalron Johnson leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 per game, blocks with 1.9 per game and is second in scoring with 17.3 ppg. Lou Kelly is the only other Runnin' Rebel averaging double figures in scoring (13.5 ppg). Last year, the squad finished with an overall record of 16-13 and placed fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a 7-7 mark.

THE WYOMING COWBOYS

Wyoming (9-4) had won four straight games before losing at Texas Tech 90-84 on Tuesday. The Cowboys are undefeated at home, but are only 1-4 on the road this season. UW is led in scoring by senior forward Josh Davis with 13.0 ppg. Two other Cowboys are in double figures: junior guard/forward Marcus Bailey is averaging 12.9 ppg and junior guard Donta Richardson is averaging 12.5 ppg. Davis leads the squad in rebounding with 8.0 per game. Freshman guard Jason Straight leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game. Head Coach Steve McClain is in his fourth year at the school with a career record of 66-36 (.647). Wyoming returns nine letterwinners and all five starters from last year's team that went 20-10 overall and finished tied for first in the MWC at 10-4. Wyoming lost at home to Pepperdine in the NIT First Round last year.

SERIES HISTORY

UNLV leads the all-time series with Wyoming 13-8. UNLV swept the series last season with a 80-78 win in Laramie on Feb. 5 and a 106-102 win in Las Vegas on March 3. Dalron Johnson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win the game in Laramie and Trevor Diggs set numerous records with 49 points in the March 3 contest. UNLV has won the last four meetings between the two schools.

FOR CONFERENCE OPENERS

UNLV is 19-6 all-time in conference openers and 10-3 when opening the conference season at home. UNLV is 9-2 in conference openers at the Thomas & Mack Center. Last year, UNLV defeated Air Force at the Thomas & Mack Center on Jan. 8, 65-54, to open the conference season.

MARCUS BANKS - MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK - DEC. 31

Marcus Banks was named the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 31 after leading the Runnin' Rebels to victories over Tennessee State and Old Dominion. Banks averaged 30 points, four rebounds, five assists and 3.5 steals in two victories at the Thomas & Mack Center. He shot 64 percent from the field (18-of-28), 67 percent from 3-point range (4-of-6) and 95 percent from the free throw line (20-of-21). In the 101-83 win vs. Tennessee State, Banks scored a then career-high 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. He also had a career-high tying six assists, five rebounds and five steals in 30 minutes of action. Against Old Dominion, Banks led the Runnin' Rebels to a second-half comeback win, 84-76, with a career-high 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point land and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. He also had four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes of action. It was Banks' first player of the week honor.

DALRON JOHNSON - MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK - DEC. 17

Dalron Johnson was named the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 17 after posting a double-double in the Runnin' Rebels 70-68 win at Loyola Marymount. Johnson helped UNLV erase a 16-point halftime deficit and pull out a two-point victory over the Lions. He collected his first double-double of the season and the 10th of his career with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 47.6 percent from the field, blocked two shots and had a career-high six steals. It was Johnson's first player of the week honor of his career.

SPOONHOUR WINS IN 500TH GAME

UNLV Head Coach Charlie Spoonhour coached his 500th game as a Division I head coach vs. Tennessee State on Dec. 28. The win gave Spoonhour his 325th career win. Spoonhour is in his 17th season as a Division I head coach and has a career record of 326-175 (.651).

UP NEXT

After Wyoming, UNLV will travel to Air Force for its first MWC road game. UNLV will face the Falcons in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Monday, Jan. 7 at 6:05 p.m. PST.

LAST TIME OUT - OLD DOMINION (DEC. 30)

Marcus Banks scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Runnin' Rebels, down 41-31 at the half, to an 84-76 win against Old Dominion at the Thomas & Mack Center. Dalron Johnson added 19 points and 14 rebounds for UNLV (7-4), while Chris Richardson had 12 points. John Waller scored 20 points, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range, for Old Dominion (6-5). Ricardo Marsh added 15 points. After trailing 65-53, UNLV tied it, 71-71, on a Johnson 3-point play with 3:10 left. The Rebels later took the lead for good on a Banks 3-pointer from the left side, 76-73, with 1:42 to go. UNLV then went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 51 seconds. A Waller 3-pointer sparked a 14-3 Old Dominion run with 14:29 until halftime, giving Old Dominion a 20-11 lead. The Monarchs built a 32-18 lead, their largest of the game, with 5:40 until the half.

2ND HALF POINT PRODUCTION

In its last five games, UNLV has averaged 52.4 points in the second half. The Runnin' Rebels scored 45 in the second half at LMU, 47 vs. UNR, 57 vs. Texas, 60 vs. Tennessee State and 53 vs. Old Dominion.

TURNOVERS DOWN

UNLV was averaging 19.0 turnovers per contest during its first six games. During its last five, the team is averaging 12.0 turnovers per game. For all 11 games this season, UNLV is averaging 15.8 turnovers a game.

BANKS ON A ROLL

Over the last four games, Marcus Banks is averaging 27.0 ppg, is shooting 58.3 (35-of-60) percent from the field and 60 (6-of-10) percent from 3-point range. In each of the last four games, he has set a new career-high in scoring (22, 26, 29, 31).

100 POINTS

For the fourth consecutive season, UNLV has scored 100 or more points in a game. UNLV scored 101 vs. Tennessee State on Dec. 28. Last year, the Runnin' Rebels scored 100 or more points in a game three times.

16-POINT HALFTIME DEFICIT TURNED INTO 2-POINT WIN

At Loyola Marymount, UNLV trailed by 16 points at halftime (41-25) and came back to win by two. The Runnin' Rebels shot 27.8 percent (10-of-36) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from 3-point range in the first half. UNLV turned things around in the second half by making 10 of its first 12 field goal attempts. For the second half, the Runnin' Rebels shot 64.3 percent (18-of-28). For the game, UNLV had a season-high in steals with 16 and a then-season-low in turnovers with 12.

SECOND-HALF COMEBACK - AGAIN - BUT NOT QUITE ENOUGH

Against Texas, UNLV found itself down by 17 points at 50-33 with 14 minutes left in the game and cut the deficit to only one point (73-72) with 4:20 left. Texas, however, held on for the win.

SHOOTING FOR THE FG'S

In its first two games, UNLV shot a combined 58.5 percent from the field. In their game against Nevada, Reno, the Runnin' Rebels shot 52.4 percent and against Tennessee State, UNLV shot 58.2 percent. UNLV is 4-0 in games in which is shoots 50 perent or better. As a team after 11 games, UNLV is shooting 46.8 percent from the field, while limiting its opponents to 44.9 percent.

ON THE MARK

Of the seven players who have seen action in all 11 games, three are shooting 50 percent or better from the field. They are Chris Richardson (38-of-67: .567), Omari Pearson (18-of-33: .545) and Marcus Banks (67-of-131: .511). An additional two players are at 44 percent or better.

FROM THE STRIPE

Over the last two games, Marcus Banks has made 20 of his last 21 free throws. He has a current streak of 18 made in a row. Banks is shooting 63.9 percent from the free throw line this season.

FROM THE STRIPE 2

After missing his first free throw attempt of the season vs. Wisconsin, Dalron Johnson made 14 consecutive free throw attempts. He missed his first attempt of the game at LMU, so his streak ended at 14. He is shooting free throws at 85.3 percent (29-of-34) this year. Johnson leads the team in free throw shooting percentage.

EVERYONE SCORES

Every Runnin' Rebel that has suited up for a game this season has scored at least three points.

FIRST CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE

Senior Chris Richardson recorded his first career double-double vs. Nevada, Reno with 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

MORE DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Junior Dalron Johnson has recorded his 10th, 11th and 12th double-double of his career this year. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds at LMU, 19 points and 10 rebounds vs. Tennessee State and 19 points and 14 rebounds vs. Old Dominion. Johnson has recorded a double-double in each of his last two games.

FIVE PLAYERS SCORE 10 OR MORE

Against Nevada, Reno, five Runnin' Rebels scored in double figures. That marked the first time all year that has happened. UNLV has had four players score 10 or more points in the same game three other times this year.

BLOCKED SHOT STREAK SNAPPED

Dalron Johnson didn't record a blocked shot vs. UAB, so his streak of eight games blocking at least one shot dating back to last season is done. Johnson, who is No. 6 on UNLV's all-time blocked shot list, has blocked at least one shot in 10 of UNLV's 11 games this year. Last year he blocked at least one shot in 22 of his 27 games and during his freshman year he blocked at least one shot in 21 of 31 games, so for his career he has blocked a shot in 53 of 69 games.

NICE FIRST HALF

It would be difficult to imagine Dalron Johnson having a better first half than he did against Nicholls State. Johnson was 8-of-9 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range, had 19 points, 3 rebounds and an assist, a block and a turnover in 13 minutes of action. He ended up scoring a career-high 29 points for the game on 13-of-16 shooting including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He also tallied 5 rebounds in a total of 19 minutes.

MARGIN OF VICTORY

UNLV's 43-point victory over Nicholls State was its largest margin of victory since defeating Sacred Heart by 47, 103-56, on Nov. 14, 1998.

UNLV'S RANK IN THE MWC

As of Jan. 2, UNLV leads the Mountain West Conference in steals with 9.91 per game. UNLV is second in scoring offense (78.5 ppg), second in turnover margin at +2.36 (UNLV's opponents are averaging 2.36 more turnovers per game than UNLV) and third in offensive rebounds with 12.82 per game. Individually, Marcus Banks leads the conference in steals with 2.45 per game, while Dalron Johnson is tied for second with 1.73 per game. Banks is third in the conference in scoring wtih 17.6 ppg and Johnson is fourth with 17.3 ppg. Johnson is also tied for second in rebounding with 8.0 per game and leads the conference in blocks with 1.91 per game.

DIVISION I DEBUTS

Two Runnin' Rebels played their first NCAA Division I college basketball game in the season opener vs. Wisconsin. Marcus Banks scored 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds, had 4 steals, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot and 5 turnovers in 38 minutes. Jamal Holden (who left the team on Dec. 18) scored 2 points and had 5 rebounds in 11 minutes. Against Nicholls State, three more Rebels made their debut. Ernest Turner scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting including 3-of-5 3-pointers and had 3 assists in 17 minutes. Louis Amundson had 8 rebounds, 4 points, 2 assists and 1 steal in 13 minutes. Lamar Bigby scored 6 points with 3 rebounds and 1 blocked shot in 12 minutes. Jon Knoche saw action against Tennessee State and scored 3 points on a 3-pointer in 5 minutes of action.

UNLV WINS VS. MOUNTAIN WEST

The Runnin' Rebels are the only Mountain West Conference team with a better than .500 record all-time against the other seven members of the conference. Air Force (12-1), BYU (6-5), Colorado State (13-5), New Mexico (11-8), San Diego State (21-5), Utah (10-9), Wyoming (13-8).

UNLV BOASTS BEST HOME RECORD IN MWC

Out of the eight Mountain West schools, UNLV has the best all-time winning percentage on its home court. UNLV is 247-43 (.852) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Utah is second at .823 (405-87).

IN OVERTIME

UNLV is 35-17 (.673) all-time in overtime games. Last season, UNLV was 1-2 in overtime games. Additionally, UNLV is 28-14 in single overtime games, 5-3 in double overtime and 2-0 in triple overtime. The Runnin' Rebels have a record of 6-3 in overtime games at the Thomas & Mack Center.

MOVIN' UP THE CHART

With 122 blocked shots for his career, Dalron Johnson is No. 6 on the all-time Runnin' Rebel blocked shot list. Stacey Augmon is No. 5 with 128.

UNLV IS 36-6 IN LAST 42 GAMES AT THE MACK'

The Runnin' Rebels are in their 19th season in the 18,500-seat Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV has posted an all-time record of 248-43 (.852) in the arena since it opened in 1983. This year, the Runnin' Rebels are 6-1 at home. They were 12-3 at home in 2000-01 and were 18-2 during the 1999-00 season, so UNLV has won 36 of its last 42 games at home. UNLV has been edged at home by four points or less 17 times and the 43 losses has been by an average of 7.9 points (339 total points).

HOLDEN LEAVES PROGRAM

Jamal Holden was granted a release from the UNLV men's basketball program on Dec. 18. Holden, a 6-10 center, who transferred to UNLV from Westark (Ark.) College prior to this season, had played in five games, averaging 8.0 minutes per game. He also averaged 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

FOR OPENERS

After defeating Wisconsin in this season's opener, UNLV is 34-10 all-time in season openers and is 26-4 when opening the season at home. The Rebels have never lost at the T&M in a season opener as they are 11-0. UNLV has won its season opener each of the last seven seasons.

OPENING WITH WISCONSIN - PART I

This season the UNLV men's basketball team opened with Wisconsin at home and next year the UNLV football team also opens with Wisconsin at home.

RUNNIN' THE REBELS - CHARLIE SPOONHOUR

UNLV has a new head coach this year. Charlie Spoonhour became the 12th head coach in Runnin' Rebel history on March 29. He came to UNLV after spending two years out of coaching, but he didn't stray too far away from the game as he served in the media as an analyst on college basketball broadcasts. Prior to that he was the head coach at Saint Louis University for seven years. Before SLU, Spoonhour was head coach at Southwest Missouri State University for nine seasons. He has a 17-year Division I head coaching record of 326-175 (.651) and has led 11 teams to the postseason, including eight to the NCAA Touranment.

THE REST OF THE STAFF

UNLV also has three new assistant coaches. They are Deane Martin, Jay Spoonhour and Derek Thomas. UNLV has retained Dave Rice, who will serve this season as Director of Basketball Operations. Rice is in his ninth year on staff. Martin was most recently the associate head coach at Tennessee-Martin. Spoonhour (Charlie's son) was most recently head coach at Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Ill., where he led the team to the junior college national championship with a record of 36-1 and was named the National Junior College Coach of the Year. Thomas was most recently with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.

EARLY SIGNINGS

J.K. Edwards and James Peters have both signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UNLV and play basketball for the Runnin' Rebels beginning with the 2002-03 season. Both players will enroll at UNLV as juniors. Edwards, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound center from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, averaged 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season. He was selected as a first team All-America last year and played in the Tournament of the Americas in Argentina this past August (on the same team as current Runnin' Rebel Marcus Banks). Edwards chose UNLV over Wisconsin, Tennessee and Iowa State. Peters, a 6-8, 215-pound forward from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, averaged 14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the floor last season. The second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection chose UNLV over Illinois, Michigan State and DePaul.

44 YEARS OF BASKETBALL

The 2001-02 year marks the 44th season of Runnin' Rebel basketball at UNLV. Since the program's inception in 1958-59, the Runnin' Rebels have posted an all-time record of 919-355 (.721). In 1969-70, UNLV made the move to Division I and has since posted a record of 732-251 (.745) while competing at that level. In addition, UNLV has an all-time mark of 884-333 (.726) against Division I competition.

"THREE-POINT GOAL ..."

Since the 3-point field goal was adopted by the NCAA in 1986-87, UNLV has converted at least one 3-pointer in all 486 games played. During that span, the Runnin' Rebels have made 3,194-of-8,827 (.362) shots from behind the arc. The Big West Conference experimented with the 3-point shot in the 1982-83, 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. During that period, UNLV connected from 3-point range in 53 of the 64 games (the 3-pointer was used in some non-conference games). The Runnin' Rebels sank 194-of-505 (.384) 3-point attempts during that time. The UNLV streak for games in which it sank at least one 3-point shot stands at 503. The last time the Runnin' Rebels failed to make at least one 3-pointer came against Long Beach State on Jan. 25, 1986. So, UNLV has sunk at least one shot from behind the arch in 539 of the 550 games in which the rule was used. In the 550 total games, the Runnin' Rebels have shot .363 from this distance while sinking 3,388-of-9,332 attempts. UNLV holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games scoring a 3-point field goal. Prior to the beginning of the 2001-02 season, Vanderbilt was No. 2 on the list, three behind UNLV.

NOTEWORTHY NOEL

For the first time, the UNLV men's basketball team has one of its players writing a weekly diary for UNLV's website UNLVRebels.com. Noel Bloom will write an entry each week and it will be posted at http://unlvrebels.fansonly.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/noel-diary-index.html. Just go to the men's basketball page at UNLVRebels.com and click on the Noteworthy Noel graphic on the right-hand side of the page. This feature on the web gives fans a look inside the team from a different perspective. Previous entries are archived for later viewing.

RUNNIN' REBELS ON THE AIR

All Runnin' Rebel games are carried live on KBAD 920 AM (ESPN Radio) in Las Vegas and on the internet at UNLVRebels.com. Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick are in their 10th season calling Runnin' Rebel basketball. Broadcasts will start one-half hour prior to the beginning of each game with the pregame show and the postgame show will feature a live interview with head coach Charlie Spoonhour followed by fan call-ins. The broadcasts are also available inside the Thomas & Mack Center by tuning to 99.5 FM. The fan call-in number is (702) 876-8585.

UNLV SPORTS NETWORK

For the first time Runnin' Rebel games are being heard on a regional network of stations. ESPN Regional at UNLV and Lotus Broadcasting have teamed up with PV Radio and KZBZ Radio to help create the first-ever UNLV Sports Network, a seven station grouping that will reach across the state and into parts of Arizona, California and Utah. The stations are in Las Vegas (Network Flagship - 920 AM), Pahrump, Nev. (95.9 FM), Amargosa Valley, Nev. (96.7 FM), Beatty, Nev. (93.5 FM), Scotty's Junction, Nev. (94.3 FM), Death Valley, Calif. (91.1 FM) and Pioche, Nev. (98.9 FM - Lincoln County and most of Southern Utah).

COACH'S SHOWS

"Game Time with UNLV Hoops" television show is shown Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on Las Vegas One (cable channels 1 and 39) and on KLAS TV-8 at 11:30 p.m. The show is hosted by Chris Maathuis and features head coach Charlie Spoonhour.

"The Charlie Spoonhour Radio Show" may be heard live Tuesdays from the ESPN Zone at New York-New York Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The show airs from 7-8 p.m. on KBAD 920 AM (ESPN Radio) in Las Vegas and may be heard on the internet at UNLVRebels.com on an archived basis. (no show is scheduled for Jan. 15 and Feb. 5) It is hosted by Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick and features head coach Charlie Spoonhour.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual game balcony tickets are priced at $15 and $12. Individual game seats on the plaza level for men's basketball will go on sale only 24 hours prior to each game. Those tickets are $25. Also on sale are Family Four Packs, which include 4 balcony level tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 popcorns, and 4 sodas, all for $56. Family Four Packs are only available for purchase at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office. Individual game tickets may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, at all Tickets.com locations, by calling Tickets.com at (888) 464-2468, and by logging onto UNLVRebels.com. For more ticket information, please call (702) 895-UNLV.

LUNCHEONS

UNLV Sports Marketing luncheons featuring Charlie Spoonhour will be held at the Si Redd Room at the Thomas & Mack Center. Luncheons have been held on Nov. 15 and Dec. 18. The remaining luncheons are scheduled for Jan. 23, Feb. 14 and March 5. Luncheons begin at noon and are $10 for the public. Media interested in attending should RSVP to Andy Grossman. For more information, please call (702) 895-UNLV.

REBELS ON TV

UNLV is scheduled to appear on television at least 18 times this season. The Runnin' Rebels are scheduled to appear on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+plus, ABC, SportsWest and ESPN Regional at UNLV.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

The 2001-02 Mountain West Conference Basketball Championship will be played Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9, at the Thomas & Mack Center. All eight teams will compete in the tournament with the champion receiving the MWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This is the third year that the MWC Tournament will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and the sixth straight year a conference tournament will be played at the TMC (The WAC held its championship at the TMC from 1997-99).

MEDIA TEAMLINK AND INFO CONNECTION

UNLV's release, statistics and latest box score are all available on the internet through www.mediateamlink.com. Media members may view documents on the internet or have the information e-mailed to them the moment it is updated. The service is free to all accredited members of the media. The same information is available on Info Connection and may be obtained by calling (770) 558-6000 from a fax machine. Media members without a PIN should call (770) 399-0096 to obtain one. The MWC's passcode is 692#. The Runnin' Rebel release code is 1906, the stats code is 1908 and the previous game box code is 1909.