UNLV’s Jerome Seagears, Ike Nwamu prepare for final home game

Senior Night has changed dramatically, with UNLV honoring two transfers and a walk-on at the Thomas & Mack Center.

It's not like the days when players spent four years at the school establishing a reputation and a relationship with the fans.

But for all that has changed, one key element hasn't — the seniors badly want to go out with positive memories in their final home game when the Rebels face Wyoming at 5 p.m. today. ESPN3 will stream the game, and the Rebels are 9-point favorites.

UNLV (16-13, 7-9 Mountain West) will honor guards Ike Nwamu and Jerome Seagears and walk-on Barry Cheaney before the game against the Cowboys (13-16, 6-10).

Whether Seagears does anything beyond the pregame ceremony is another question. A bruised right heel kept him out of practice the past two days, and interim coach Todd Simon said the decision on Seagears' availability would be made today.

Forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. looks as if he's a go after practicing Thursday and Friday. He hasn't played since spraining his left knee on Feb. 6 at Fresno State, and barring an unexpected setback, Zimmerman will be on the floor tonight.

Seagears, who averages 9.6 points per game, would love to join his teammates out there and participate in his final regular-season game at the Mack. He played this one UNLV season after moving over from Rutgers and sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.

"I'm ready to get out there and see how the night goes," Seagears said. "Hopefully, I can get out there Saturday."

Nwamu was a senior graduate transfer from Mercer, meaning he didn't need to wait a season. He averages 10.3 points in his one season with the Rebels.

"(The senior ceremony) does feel a little weird," Nwamu said. "It's not like I played 50-something games at the Thomas & Mack. It's still special nonetheless."

Seagears and Nwamu are key contributors, combining to start 47 games.

But their final season didn't play out like they had hoped.

The coach who recruited them, Dave Rice, was fired on Jan. 10. Injuries also have wrecked the lineup, and the Rebels will have six or seven available scholarship players against Wyoming.

"It's really been eventful," Nwamu said. "It's not exactly the plan, but it's a part of basketball. It's definitely been frustrating. There are a lot of things you can't control, but you've got to stay with it. It's what we love to do."

UNLV has stuck together, and both players said the negative events were a catalyst for making that happen.

"When you're in tough times, the only thing that can bring you up is family," Seagears said. "We consider ourselves family."

The family has two regular-season games remaining. After Wyoming, the Rebels visit San Diego State on March 5. Then it's on to the Mountain West tournament.

Simon has helped keep the pieces together, but he knows the players are the ones who ultimately must dig deep to try to make something of their season.

"In every situation, they've shown how big their heart is," Simon said. "They've continued to take on every little scenario and a lot of situations where physically their bodies aren't necessarily willing, but their heart is, and their passion for playing this game and (for) this team and each other has shown through the adverse situations, where they continue to believe and they continue to fight for each other."

— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.

WYOMING (13-16, 6-10 MW)

Coach: Larry Shyatt (116-76, sixth season)

PROBABLE STARTERS

Player Pos. Hgt. Pts.

Josh Adams G 6-2 24.6

Jeremy Lieberman G 6-1 4.0

Jason McManamen G 6-5 13.9

Alan Herndon F 6-9 7.7

Jonathan Barnes F 6-10 2.0

UNLV (16-13, 7-9 MW)

Coach: Todd Simon (7-6, first season)

PROBABLE STARTERS

Player Pos. Hgt. Pts.

Patrick McCaw G 6-7 14.0

Jerome Seagears G 6-1 9.6

Ike Nwamu G 6-5 10.3

Derrick Jones Jr. F 6-7 11.1

S. Zimmerman Jr. F 7-0 10.6

SIMON SAYS

UNLV's three keys to beating Wyoming, according to Rebels interim coach Todd Simon:

1. Limit 3-pointers. (Wyoming leads the Mountain West in made 3-pointers with 283 and 3-point shooting percent at 37.8.)

2. Rebound. (The expected return of Stephen Zimmerman Jr. from a sprained left knee is a big boost for the Rebels.)

3. Force tempo. (UNLV won't abandon the transition game even being in zone much of the game.)

NOTABLE

The first 5,000 fans receive T-shirts, and posters of the seniors will be given away. ... UNLV has won 14 consecutive times against Wyoming at home, but the Cowboys have won two of the past three meetings overall. ... The Rebels are 12-2 when scoring at least 80 points. UNLV scored 80 points just twice all of last season. ... Wyoming's Josh Adams has scored at least 30 points in eight games, second highest nationally. He also has reached at least 20 points in 19 games. ... The Cowboys turn over the ball 11.3 times per game, the lowest average in the conference.

— Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal