Men's Basketball 11/26/2021 1:19:00 PM

Runnin' Rebels Host No. 2 UCLA, To Retire Freddie Banks' Jersey Saturday

Game scheduled for 2 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (4-2) will host its most anticipated home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 27 against No. 2 UCLA at the Thomas & Mack Center at 2 p.m.

Runnin' Rebel legend Freddie Banks will have his jersey retired at halftime. Starring at UNLV from 1983-87 under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian, Banks, who stayed home to play for the Runnin' Rebels after attending Valley High School where he earned McDonald's High School All-American honors, helped lead UNLV to the 1987 Final Four. He will be the 10th player in program history to have his jersey hung in the rafters at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Runnin' Rebels have opened the 2021-22 campaign with six games in Las Vegas (four at the TMC and two at T-Mobile Arena). UNLV started with three straight wins at home against Gardner-Webb, California and North Dakota State, then lost to then-No. 4 Michigan and Wichita State in the Roman Main Event on the Las Vegas Strip last weekend. UNLV played the Wolverines tough before falling 74-61 and lost a heartbreaker to the Shockers 74-73. The Runnin' Rebels got back in the win column Wednesday with a 101-45 victory over Division III Whittier at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Senior guard Bryce Hamilton leads the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game, with junior forward Donovan Williams second at 11.0 ppg. Senior forward Royce Hamm Jr. is second in the Mountain West in rebounding with 11.7 per contest (fifth in the country) and is also averaging 8.3 ppg and 1.5 bpg. Senior guard Jordan McCabe leads the team in assists at 4.2 apg (seventh in the MW).

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 senior guards Hamilton and 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.

No. 2 UCLA (5-1) opened the season with five straight victories, including an overtime win at home against then-No. 4 Villanova, but is coming off an 83-63 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena. Johnny Juzang has averaged a team-best 18.3 points per game and UCLA has shot 46.5% from the field and 37.7% from the beyond the 3-point arc.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on Stadium with Chris Hassel and Doug Gottlieb calling the action. 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.

Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#31 Marvin Coleman: Guard; 6' 2"; Sophomore; 1L

#13 Bryce Hamilton: Guard; 6' 4"; Sophomore; 1L

#14 Royce Hamm Jr.: F; 6' 9"; Fifth Year

#5 Jordan McCabe: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#3 Donovan Williams: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Marvin Coleman
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; 1L
: Guard

#13 Bryce Hamilton
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; 1L
: Guard

#14 Royce Hamm Jr.
: 6' 9"; Fifth Year
: F

#5 Jordan McCabe
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#3 Donovan Williams
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F