Tuesday, November 28
Thomas & Mack Center
7:00 PM PT
University of Nevada Las Vegas
vs
Akron
11/27/2023 1:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNLV men's basketball will host Zips at 7 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com)Â -Â The UNLV men's basketball team (2-3) will be back at the Thomas & Mack Center to host Akron on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. It will mark the Runnin' Rebels' first home game since its season-opening two-game homestand concluded on Nov. 11.
TUESDAY'S PROMOTIONS:Â Tuesday's game, which is presented by IBEW and NECA, will feature $2 Miller Lites through halftime while supplies last. Students will receive free food at Rebel Fest prior to the game.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men's basketball home games are on sale now at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
ABOUT THE ROSTER:Â This season's UNLV squad features seven returners from last year's team along with seven newcomers. The newcomers are made up of three Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and three freshmen. UNLV has 10 upperclassmen, including five fifth-year seniors. A total of four players on the roster are playing in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin' Rebels return two starters in Luis Rodriguez and Justin Webster, who averaged 10.7 and 8.2 points per game last season, respectively. Rodriguez led last season's team in rebounding (5.7 rpg).
EARLY SEASON RUNNIN' REBEL LEADERS:Â After five games, four UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring in Kalib Boone (14.3 ppg), Jalen Hill (12.6 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (12.0 ppg) and Dedan Thomas Jr. (10.6 ppg). Hill leads the team in rebounds (7.4 rpg), while Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (5.8 apg, 26th in nation). Boone also leads the team in field-goal percentage (70.3, 11th in nation) and blocks (1.5 bpg), while Rodriguez is the team's steals leader (1.6 spg).
LAST TIME OUT:Â UNLV is coming off the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Florida, where it lost both of its games (vs. Florida State and Richmond) on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 20 and 21. Kalib Boone led the team in scoring over the two games at 14.5 ppg, while shooting 68.4% from the field.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:Â Akron has started the 2023-24 season with a 4-2 record but has lost each of its last two games: vs. Utah State (65-62) and vs. Drake (79-59) in the Cayman Islands Classic. Four Zip players are averaging double figures in scoring: Enrique Freeman (16.5 ppg), Mikal Dawson (10.7 ppg) and Sammy Hunter (10.3 ppg). Freeman also leads in rebounds (11.7 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg), while Kaleb Thornton is the team's assists leader (3.0 apg) and Nate Johnson leads in steals (1.5 spg). Akron finished last season with an overall record of 22-11, placing third in the Mid-American Conference with a 13-5 league mark. The Zips were picked to win their league this season, receiving 11 of 12 first-place votes in the preseason poll, while Ali Ali (not eligible) and Freeman were both named First-Team Preseason All-MAC. Led by head coach John Groce, Akron has eight upperclassmen on its 15-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO:Â Tuesday's game will be broadcast on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (Digital 5.2, Cox 125) and the Mountain West Network (stream) with Matt Neverett and Steve Cofield calling the action. Jon Sandler and former Runnin' Rebel Curtis Terry 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.
LAST SEASON:Â The Runnin' Rebels finished the 2022-23 season with 19 wins. UNLV won two games over ranked teams, which marked the first time the program had won multiple games against top 25 teams in the same season since 2015-16. UNLV raced out to a hot start, going 11-1 in non-conference play after winning its first 10 games. The non-conference record was its best in 32 years and the 10-0 start was its best in 34 seasons. When the team was 10-0 it was receiving votes in both top 25 polls. EJ Harkless was named Second Team All-Mountain West when conference play concluded.
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TUESDAY'S PROMOTIONS:Â Tuesday's game, which is presented by IBEW and NECA, will feature $2 Miller Lites through halftime while supplies last. Students will receive free food at Rebel Fest prior to the game.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men's basketball home games are on sale now at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
ABOUT THE ROSTER:Â This season's UNLV squad features seven returners from last year's team along with seven newcomers. The newcomers are made up of three Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and three freshmen. UNLV has 10 upperclassmen, including five fifth-year seniors. A total of four players on the roster are playing in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin' Rebels return two starters in Luis Rodriguez and Justin Webster, who averaged 10.7 and 8.2 points per game last season, respectively. Rodriguez led last season's team in rebounding (5.7 rpg).
EARLY SEASON RUNNIN' REBEL LEADERS:Â After five games, four UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring in Kalib Boone (14.3 ppg), Jalen Hill (12.6 ppg), Luis Rodriguez (12.0 ppg) and Dedan Thomas Jr. (10.6 ppg). Hill leads the team in rebounds (7.4 rpg), while Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (5.8 apg, 26th in nation). Boone also leads the team in field-goal percentage (70.3, 11th in nation) and blocks (1.5 bpg), while Rodriguez is the team's steals leader (1.6 spg).
LAST TIME OUT:Â UNLV is coming off the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Florida, where it lost both of its games (vs. Florida State and Richmond) on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 20 and 21. Kalib Boone led the team in scoring over the two games at 14.5 ppg, while shooting 68.4% from the field.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:Â Akron has started the 2023-24 season with a 4-2 record but has lost each of its last two games: vs. Utah State (65-62) and vs. Drake (79-59) in the Cayman Islands Classic. Four Zip players are averaging double figures in scoring: Enrique Freeman (16.5 ppg), Mikal Dawson (10.7 ppg) and Sammy Hunter (10.3 ppg). Freeman also leads in rebounds (11.7 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg), while Kaleb Thornton is the team's assists leader (3.0 apg) and Nate Johnson leads in steals (1.5 spg). Akron finished last season with an overall record of 22-11, placing third in the Mid-American Conference with a 13-5 league mark. The Zips were picked to win their league this season, receiving 11 of 12 first-place votes in the preseason poll, while Ali Ali (not eligible) and Freeman were both named First-Team Preseason All-MAC. Led by head coach John Groce, Akron has eight upperclassmen on its 15-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO:Â Tuesday's game will be broadcast on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (Digital 5.2, Cox 125) and the Mountain West Network (stream) with Matt Neverett and Steve Cofield calling the action. Jon Sandler and former Runnin' Rebel Curtis Terry 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.
LAST SEASON:Â The Runnin' Rebels finished the 2022-23 season with 19 wins. UNLV won two games over ranked teams, which marked the first time the program had won multiple games against top 25 teams in the same season since 2015-16. UNLV raced out to a hot start, going 11-1 in non-conference play after winning its first 10 games. The non-conference record was its best in 32 years and the 10-0 start was its best in 34 seasons. When the team was 10-0 it was receiving votes in both top 25 polls. EJ Harkless was named Second Team All-Mountain West when conference play concluded.
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