Rebels Clash With Cougs to Keep Streak Alive
Off to its best start to a season in 12 years and one of only 10 undefeated teams remaining in the country, the UNLV men’s basketball team (9-0) will face Washington State on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as part of the Las Vegas Clash. The doubleheader event also includes No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 14 Indiana at 4 p.m.
In its first-ever game in Henderson, UNLV led by as many as 21 in the second half as it defeated Hawaii 77-62 on Wednesday night at the Dollar Loan Center. In moving to 9-0 with the win, UNLV has matched its last 9-0 start, which occurred during the 2010-11 season. Luis Rodriguez led all scorers for the second straight game with 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds with two steals, while Justin Webster and Keshon Gilbert each scored 13, and EJ Harkless added 10. David Muoka scored nine points with game highs of nine rebounds and three blocks. UNLV, which entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the nation in forcing turnovers, forced Hawaii into 18 miscues, which marked the ninth straight contest that its opponent has committed at least 17 turnovers.
Washington State (4-4) started the season with a win over Texas State (83-61) before losing to Mountain West-member Boise State (71-61). The Cougars then lost at Prairie View A&M (70-59, won at Eastern Washington (82-56), and defeated Detroit Mercy (96-54) before opening Pac-12 play with two losses: at Oregon (74-60) and at home to Utah in overtime (67-65). WSU is coming off a win over Northern Kentucky (68-47) on Wednesday night. WSU has four players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by TJ Bamba (16.3 ppg). Mouhamed Gueye is second in scoring (14.3 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Justin Powell is the team’s assist leader (4.4 apg), while he is also in double figures in scoring (11.5 ppg). Washington State finished the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 22-15, finishing fifth in the Pac-12 with an 11-9 league mark. This season’s team was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-12’s preseason poll. Gueye was named to the preseason all-conference team. The Cougars’ 18-man roster includes nine upperclassmen. WSU is coached by Kyle Smith, who is in his fourth season at the school with a record of 56-48 (.538) and in his 13th season overall as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 220-170 (.564).