LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (8-6, 1-1), which has won four of its last five games and five of seven, will host No. 20 Utah State (15-1, 3-0) at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, Jan. 13. The 12 p.m. game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
PROMOTIONS: Saturday's game will feature a free rally towel giveaway, courtesy of Professional Roofing Services. The first 1,500 fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center will be able to pick one up.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men's basketball home games may be purchased at
UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
LAST TIME OUT: The Runnin' Rebels recorded a big win in their Mountain West home opener on Tuesday night over New Mexico, 83-73, improving their record at home this season to 6-1. UNLV led by as many as 21 points in its sixth straight win over the Lobos at home and ninth overall in the last 10 meetings with UNM. Twin brothers Kalib and
Keylan Boone combined for 46 points as Kalib scored a career-high 29 and Keylan added a season-high 17.
Dedan Thomas Jr. contributed 14 points with seven assists, while
Luis Rodriguez also scored in double figures with 13 points and added a team-high eight rebounds.
RUNNIN' REBEL LEADERS: Five UNLV players are averaging double figures in scoring this season in
Kalib Boone (13.4 ppg),
Luis Rodriguez (12.6 ppg),
Dedan Thomas Jr. (12.4 ppg),
Jalen Hill (10.7 ppg) and
Keylan Boone (10.1 ppg).
Keylan Boone leads the team in rebounds (6.7 rpg),
Dedan Thomas Jr. is the assists leader (6.3 apg, 12th in nation), Boone leads in field-goal percentage (65.5, 7th in nation) and blocks (1.7 bpg, 1st in MW), and Rodriguez is the team's steals leader (2.1 spg, 1st in MW). Hill missed six games with a wrist injury and returned at San Diego State on Jan. 6, but left late in the first half in that game after suffering a knee injury, which an MRI later revealed to be a season-ending ACL tear.
ABOUT THE ROSTER: 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).
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: No. 20 Utah State enters Saturday's game on a 14-game win streak. The Aggies' only loss this season occurred at Bradley in overtime in early November. USU is coming off an 83-59 home win over Wyoming on Tuesday. Utah State is 3-1 in true road games this season. Four Utah State players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Great Osobor's 18.6 ppg (2nd in MW). He also leads the team and conference in rebounding (9.4 rpg), has a team-best 59.1 field-goal percentage (6th in MW) and leads in blocks (1.4 bpg, 4th in MW). Darius Brown is the team's assist leader (7.6 apg, 1st in MW, 3rd in nation), while Mason Falslev is tops in steals (1.9 spg, 2nd in MW). As a team, the Aggies are among the nation's top 25 in winning percentage (1st), 3-point percentage defense (11th), field-goal percentage (12th), scoring margin (17th), assists per game (20th) and assist/turnover margin (21st). Utah State went 26-9 overall last season, including 13-5 in MW play to finish tied for second. The Aggies ended their season with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Missouri. Led by head coach Danny Sprinkle, Utah State has nine underclassmen on its 16-man roster.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday's game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn and Pete Gillen calling the action. Jon Sandler, former Runnin' Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas and worldwide on SiriusXM 385. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.
