Men's Basketball 2/18/2022 3:53:00 PM

Runnin' Rebels Host Colorado State Saturday at 5 PM

UNLV legend Robert Smith's jersey to be retired at halftime, numerous promotions announced.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team, winner of four of its last six games, will return home to the Thomas & Mack Center, where they are 10-3 this season, to host Colorado State (21-3, 11-3) on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. At halftime, Runnin' Rebel legend Robert Smith will have his jersey retired.

PROMOTIONS: In addition to Smith's jersey retirement, numerous promotions are in place for Saturday's game, which marks the first home game of the season that fans may attend regardless of vaccination status and with no mask mandate.

The game is presented by Findlay Toyota and will feature multiple giveaways, including free season tickets for a variety of Rebel sports and one lucky UNLV student will win free tuition for a semester.
UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield will be at the controls of the Findlay Toyota T-Shirt Cannon with select shirts during the first half paired with certificates for 2022-23 season tickets for general fans, and one including the free-tuition prize directed toward the student section during the second half.
The first 400 kids ages 12 and under through the doors will receive a free No. 10 Active Wear Smith T-Shirt.
A pregame tailgate will also be held in front of the TMC near the Tarkanian Statue with free Taco Bell available for the first 500 students. Open to all fans, it will include a live DJ, games and inflatables. Red Bull will also be on hand providing drink samples while supplies last.
The new student loyalty program, which will culminate in a custom Nike Air Force 1 shoe giveaway, continues Saturday. To be eligible to receive the pair of shoes, UNLV students must bring the card they received before the San Jose State game on Jan. 22 and have it punched at the student entrance at Cox Pavilion prior to, and at the conclusion of, the Colorado State game.

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

LAST TIME OUT: The Runnin' Rebels won 60-57 Wednesday night at Fresno State. Senior guard Bryce Hamilton led all scorers with 17 points, while senior forward Royce Hamm Jr. added 12 points. The Runnin' Rebels turned up the defensive pressure when it mattered most, holding the Bulldogs without a field goal during the game's final four minutes.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE RAMS: UNLV and then-No. 22 Colorado State met earlier this season in Fort Collins with the Runnin' Rebels securing a dominant 88-74 victory on Jan. 28. It is still CSU's only home loss of the season. Hamilton tallied the ninth-highest single-game scoring total in program history with a career-high 42 points that night.

THIS SEASON: Hamilton leads the Runnin' Rebels (15-11, 7-6) in scoring this season at 21.5 points per game, which ranks first in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation. Junior forward Donovan Williams is second on the team at 13.6 ppg and tops in field-goal percentage at 49.5 (although he has been battling injury as of late). Hamm Jr. leads the team and is third in the MW in rebounding with 9.3 per contest (27th in the country) and is also averaging 8.5 ppg. Senior guard Jordan McCabe leads the team in assists at 4.9 apg (fourth in the MW) and leads the conference and is fourth in the country in assist/turnover ratio (3.4).

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: Colorado State (21-3, 11-3) is receiving votes in both Top 25 polls. The Rams have won five games in a row and are coming off an 83-68 road win at New Mexico on Thursday night. Three Rams are averaging double figures in scoring: David Roddy (19.8 ppg, 3rd in MW), Isaiah Stevens (15.3 ppg, 13th in MW) and John Tonje (10.2 ppg). Roddy also leads the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg, 6th in MW), while Stevens is the assist leader (5.0 apg, 3rd in MW). The Rams are 5-2 in true road games this season and are fifth in the country in field-goal percentage (49.6).

BROADCAST INFO: Saturday's game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Alex Del Barrio and Antonio Daniels 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 and through the UNLV Rebels App.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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