UNLV men’s basketball preview: Rebels close season against MW champs
Who: UNLV at New Mexico
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
TV/Radio: CBSSN; KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM)
Line: New Mexico -12, total 146
About the Rebels (17-13, 11-8 Mountain West): UNLV has won three straight, as well as six of its last seven, after defeating San Diego State 74-67 at home Tuesday.
Senior guard Julian Rishwain had a career-high 26 points in the victory to help the Rebels sweep the Aztecs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Junior guard Jaden Henley added 17 points in UNLV’s fourth win since sophomore point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. suffered a shoulder injury Feb. 15 against Fresno State.
Coach Kevin Kruger and Thomas’ father, Dedan Thomas Sr., have expressed optimism that the Rebels’ leading scorer will return this season.
This is UNLV’s regular-season finale before the Mountain West tournament, which will be held Wednesday through March 15 at Thomas &Mack Center. UNLV is locked into the No. 6 seed and will play the No. 11 seed at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
About the Lobos (24-6, 16-3): Junior guard Donovan Dent scored 33 points to lead New Mexico to a 71-67 win over UNR on Tuesday, clinching at least a share of the Mountain West regular-season title for the Lobos.
New Mexico, which will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, is 15-1 at home.
The Lobos defeated UNLV 75-73 their first meeting this season at Thomas &Mack Center on Jan. 25. Thomas had 18 points for the Rebels in the loss, while Rishwain added 16 points.
Callie Fin Las Vegas Review-Journal
