UNLV Men’s Basketball Heads to Arizona Tip-Off Tournament | UNLV Basketball | sport

UNLV game day

WHO: UNLV at the Arizona Tip-Off (vs. Mississippi State on Thursday, v. Butler or Northwestern on Friday)

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Friday 4:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m

Where: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona

TV: CBSSN

Radio: KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM)

About the Rebels (4-1): UNLV goes on the road for the first time this season and carries the momentum of three straight wins.

The most recent was a 72-65 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center, in which 6-foot-10 sophomore point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. made his first dunk of the game.

Thomas leads the team in points (17.8) and assists (3.8) per game. Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry defends the Rebels’ rim with a team-high seven rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

Transfer guard Julian Rishwain has been added to the starting lineup for the last two games as forward Rob Whaley Jr. (back), guard Jaden Henley (foot) and guard Jace Whiting (foot) recover from injuries.

Rishwain averaged 12 points, three rebounds and two steals in his two starts. He said competing against the “stronger, more physical” teams that will play in Tempe will help UNLV achieve its goal of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

Fourth-year coach Kevin Kruger said Tuesday that he wants the Rebels to focus on defense while being more “synchronous and consistent.”

There’s no better way to build chemistry than a road trip — even if it means being away from family on vacation, he said.

“Thanksgiving is something that has always been shared with teams,” Kruger said of his childhood. “Just basketball talk and spending time together. There are definitely a lot of great things that can come from these tournaments early in the season.”

To the opponents: 25th-ranked Mississippi State (5-0) is fresh off two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bulldogs are led by sophomore guard Josh Hubbard, who scored 20.2 points per game this season, third in the SEC.

Kruger said Hubbard is “arguably the best player the Rebels will play all year.”

UNLV plays either Butler (4-1) or Northwestern (5-1) on Friday.

Butler has won three straight, most recently against Merrimack 78-39.

Northwestern’s only loss was 71-66 to Dayton on November 9th. The Wildcats’ 22-12 season last year ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the hands of eventual champion UConn.

Contact Callie Fin at [email protected]. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.