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UNLV Runnin’ Rebels versus the San Diego State Aztecs Moneyline Point Spread Preview.

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:23:32 +0000

The UNLV Rebels (16-2) take to the road to play their first conference game. They head to the perfect weather of the pacific coast to take on the San Diego State Aztecs (14-2). The Aztecs and the Rebels have been two of the best teams of the Mountain West Conference combining to win the five tournament championships. This conference opener between the 12th ranked UNLV Rebels and the 22nd San Diego Aztecs at the Viejas Arena will have an impact on the conference championship.

The Rebels are under the first year of head coach David Rice. The Rebels come in having faced one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. The Rebels lost at Wisconsin and Wichita State but have impressive wins on the road over Illinois, at Santa Barbara and Hawaii with wins then ranked #1 in the country North Carolina and California in Las Vegas. The Rebels are a deep team that plays 10 unselfish players. Rice promised to push the ball and make his alma mater the same fast breaking style he played as a member of the 1990 Championship team under legendary Jerry Tarkanian. The Rebels lead the conference with 81.2 points per game, good for 10th in the country.

San Diego State lost several starters to graduation from a very talented team last season. Most experts expected the Aztecs to struggle but they are off to their second best start in school history winning seven straight games. The Aztecs lost four starters from last year’s team but have two transfers making an immediate impact. Xavier Thames via Washington State is making an immediate impact leading the conference in assists and Louisiana State transfer leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game.

The Rebels will have revenge on their minds losing their last five straight games and eight of their last nine meetings with the Aztecs. Last season, the Aztecs swept the Rebels in three games by a total of just 14-points. This is the first meeting in which both teams are in the top-25, and their first meeting in a conference opener. The Rebels have not played since January 9 and the Aztecs are coming off a close win over Chicago State (0-16). All eight teams in the conference have at least 10 wins and have only six losses between them.

UNLV Rebels Knock off the Top-Ranked North Carolina Tar Heels to break in to the College Basketball top-25.

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:58:36 +0000

The UNLV Rebels find themselves back in the top-25 in the country after knocking off top-ranked North Carolina 90-80. The Runnin’ Rebels needed just seven games to make a name for them and get national attention.
A light schedule going into the Las Vegas Invitational last weekend still left many questions about a UNLV team that was under a new coaching staff that wanted to push the ball in transition with a talented group of player that struggled offensively last season.
Last season was not a disaster for the Rebels under the direction of Lon Krueger. On the contrary, Krueger made it to the NCAA Tournament and left the roster full of talent with two transfers coming in that would arguably leave the team with more talent.
Mike Moser, An important addition to the roster this season was huge in the victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels scoring 16 points and controlling the paint against the best frontcourt on the country by snatching 18 rebounds. As a team the Rebels has 20 points off offensive rebounds to the Tar heels six points. Senior Forward Chase Stanback scored a career high 28 points and corralled 10 rebounds and Oscar Bellfield came up big with 16 points and nine rebounds from the point guard position.
The Rebels are currently ranked 18th but will need to continue to build on their early success to really make this season significant. “I could tell on the bus on the way over and at shoot-around how focused we were,” said first-year UNLV coach Dave Rice. “North Carolina is so well coached. We expected to play really, really well. We felt we had a chance to be competitive. We have four seniors. We do not want one game to define our program. We want to be judged on our consistency.”

UNLV Rips Air Force 77-44 on the road in Mountain West Conference action

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:32:29 +0000

UNLV came out in this game focused on both end of the court and grounded the Air Force Falcons 77-47. UNLV hit 13 3-pointers and shot 58.8 percent from the floor while the defense used a dominating man-to-man defense that limited the Falcons to just 42.5% shooting from the floor and just 23.5% from behind the arc.

The Runnin’ Rebels (22-7, 10-5 Mountain West ) never gave the Air Force Falcons ( 9-18, 1-13) a chance. The Rebels had a 17-0 run and forced nine turnovers in the first half and went into halftime 38-19. The Rebels have now won five straight games over Air Force.

Chase Stanback led the way for the Rebels with a career high 21 points, on 8 of `13 shooting from the floor and a game high eight rebounds. Kendall Wallace nailed 5 treys for 15 points And Oscar Bellfield came alive in the second half and finished with 12 points.

The Rebels went deep in to their bench once again with nine players that had 10 or more minutes. As a group the Rebels out-rebounded the Falcons 31-18.

The Falcons have lost their last seven straight games and 13out of their last 14 games.

The Rebels have bounced back to win three straight games, over inferior opponents, by an average of 23 points a game after losing three straight.

UNLV has a week off before they finish up the regular season next Saturday against Wyoming.