LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The UNLV men’s basketball team (1-0) will continue its season-opening five-game homestand on Saturday, Nov. 9 by hosting Memphis at 3 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Runnin’ Rebels opened the season with a 93-79 win over Alabama State on Monday. Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry led all players in that contest with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds on 10 of 11 shooting.
Dedan Thomas Jr. added 17 points and seven assists, while two other Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures (Julian Rishwain, 13 points on 4 of 8 3-pointers, and Brooklyn Hicks, 11 points).
UNLV shot 56.9% from the field and 45.0% on 3-pointers.
UNLV is in its fourth season under head coach Kevin Kruger. Saturday will mark his 100th game as a head coach. He has compiled a career mark of 59-40.
SATURDAY’S PROMOTIONS: The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive free UNLV jersey rally towels. In addition, there will be free pizza given away pregame to UNLV students. Also, one lucky student will win four tickets to the student party suite for the Rebel football game vs. UNR. Separately, the Salvation Army will be in attendance taking donations.
TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men’s basketball home games are on sale at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
ABOUT THE ROSTER: This season’s UNLV squad features six returners from last year’s team along with 10 newcomers. The newcomers are made up of four Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and five freshmen. UNLV has eight upperclassmen, including two sixth-year players. A total of six players on the roster are playing in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin’ Rebels return two starters in sophomore guard Dedan Thomas Jr., who was the Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year last season and was named to this season’s preseason all-conference team, and senior forward Rob Whaley Jr. Forward Jalen Hill is also back for a sixth year of college after suffering a season-ending knee injury in January. Thomas Jr. led UNLV in scoring and assists last year with 13.6 and 5.1 per game, respectively, Whaley Jr. had averages of 7.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg, while Hill averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg in seven contests.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Memphis (1-0) went 22-10 overall last season and finished tied for fifth in the American Athletic Conference with an 11-7 league mark. The Tigers climbed as high as No. 10 in the Associated Press Poll in January. The team returns two players from last year’s team and has added 12 newcomers. Memphis had four players honored on the AAC Preseason Awards list, including PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter, who were each selected to the first team, while Colby Rogers was on the second team. Jared Harris was named the AAC Preseason Freshman of the Year. The Tigers had to replace 14 players who played in a game last season, the most of any team in college basketball. The lone returning scholarship player in Nicholas Jourdain, who averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. Memphis was picked to finish second in the AAC this season, earning four first-place votes. The Tigers, who have 10 upperclassmen on their roster, are coached by Penny Hardaway, who is in his seventh season at the school with a record of 130-62 (.677). Memphis has won at least 20 games in all six seasons under Hardaway. Memphis won its season opener on Monday at home over Missouri, 83-75, in come-from-behind fashion. The Tigers trailed by 10 at the half, but outscored Mizzou 51-33 in the second half. Haggerty led the team with a game-high 25 points, including 22 in the second half.
BROADCAST INFO: Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (digital channel 5.2 & 125 on Cox in Las Vegas, also available on YouTube TV) and the Mountain West Network with Wyatt Tomchek and Curtis Terry calling the action. The duo will also provide the call on radio via simulcast, which may be heard 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: The Runnin’ Rebels are coming off their best season in over a decade as they were invited to the postseason for the first time since 2013, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals, winning a postseason game for the first time in 16 years. In his third season at the helm, Kruger led the squad to 21 wins for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign and guided the team to a 12-4 record over its final 16 games.UNLV recorded its first win over a top-10 team in four years, its first in non-conference play in nine seasons and beat a total of four ranked teams in a single season for the first time in 11 years. 2023-24 Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year Dedan Thomas Jr. set the Mountain West’s assists record with 174, also leading the nation in assists among freshmen.
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