May 24, 2005
LAS VEGAS - Home games against Texas Tech, Nevada, Reno and trips to Oklahoma State, Minnesota and Hawaii are just some of the highlights of the 2005-06 non-conference UNLV men's basketball schedule, which the athletics department announced Tuesday.
The Runnin' Rebels, who are led by second-year head coach Lon Kruger, are slated to face six non-conference teams that played in the postseason last year, including four NCAA Tournament squads, two of which advanced to the Sweet 16.
"We have put together a very attractive and exciting schedule, both at home and away," Kruger said. "It is a schedule that will prepare us well for conference play."
UNLV will play two exhibition games against Washburn and Bryant College on Nov. 8 and 12, respectively, before starting the regular season. Bryant College is coached by former UNLV assistant and interim head coach Max Good. The Bulldogs were the NCAA Division II national runners-up last season.
The Runnin' Rebels will open the regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 18 against Long Beach State. It has been nine years since the two former Big West Conference foes have met. UNLV holds a 33-10 all-time series advantage over the 49ers.
UNLV will then host Hawaii on Tuesday, Nov. 22, which is part of a rare in-season home-and-home series with the Rainbow Warriors. UNLV last played the Western Athletic Conference school in 2003 and holds a 17-8 all-time advantage.
The Runnin' Rebels will close out their season-opening three-game home stand on Saturday, Nov. 26 against intrastate rival Nevada, Reno. UNR is coming off its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season after advancing to the second round. UNLV has faced UNR 66 times and has won 48 of those meetings.
UNLV will then embark on a four-game road swing by playing its first road game of the year on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Oklahoma State. The Big 12-member Cowboys are coming off NCAA Final Four and Sweet 16 appearances the last two seasons, respectively. UNLV last played OSU in December as part of the Las Vegas Showdown.
A Saturday, Dec. 3 game at Pac-10 Conference member Oregon State is next, followed by a trip to the Islands for a game on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Hawaii. UNLV defeated Oregon State last season in November and has a 6-3 record against Pac-10 teams over the last three years. The Runnin' Rebels are 3-0 all-time against the Beavers, who played in last year's National Invitation Tournament.
A game on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Big Ten-member Minnesota wraps up the road trip. It will mark UNLV's first-ever meeting with the Golden Gophers, who were an NCAA Tournament team last year.
UNLV returns home for five straight non-conference games at the Thomas & Mack Center kicked off by the Las Vegas Showdown on Saturday, Dec. 17. The 10th annual event will feature a match up with Texas Tech, led by legendary head coach Bob Knight. The Big 12-member Red Raiders also advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last year. The other teams participating in this year's Showdown have yet to be determined.
UNLV then will host Houston on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and Pepperdine on Thursday, Dec. 22. UNLV hasn't faced the Cougars since 1988. The Runnin' Rebels hold a 16-5 all-time series advantage over the Waves. Houston was also a NIT participant last year.
The non-conference schedule concludes with home games against Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Dec. 29 and Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 31. The Runnin' Rebels are 22-5 all-time against LMU and last faced SUU in 1998.
The 2005-06 Mountain West Conference men's basketball schedule is expected to be announced in August.
UNLV returns three starters and a total of seven lettermen from last year's team that recorded an overall record of 17-14 and advanced to the second round of the NIT. UNLV's 2005-06 squad will have six new faces on the roster including a recruiting class that ranked 11th in the nation by hoopscooponline.com.
Season tickets are now on sale - to order please call (702) 739-FANS.
UNLV Men's Basketball 2005-06 Non-Conference Schedule
Date Opponent LocationNov. 8 Washburn (exh.) Las VegasNov. 12 Bryant College (exh.) Las VegasNov. 18 Long Beach State Las VegasNov. 22 Hawaii Las VegasNov. 26 Nevada, Reno Las VegasNov. 30 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla.Dec. 3 at Oregon State Corvallis, Ore.Dec. 6 at Hawaii Honolulu, HawaiiDec. 10 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn.Dec. 17 Texas Tech* Las VegasDec. 20 Houston Las VegasDec. 22 Pepperdine Las VegasDec. 29 Loyola Marymount Las VegasDec. 31 Southern Utah Las Vegas
* Las Vegas Showdown
