MBB: Boise State (12-4, 2-1) at University of Nevada- Las Vegas (12-3, 1-2)
Boise State University at University of Nevada- Las Vegas
Date: Wednesday January 10, 2023
Time:9:00pm MT
Stadium:, (12,000)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Commentators: Bob Behler and Abe Jackson
Know Thy Enemy
Boise State is Wheels up this week as they hit the road for the first of two games in the Mountain West this week. First up is their visit to the land or Rebels as they visit UNLV at the Thomas and Mack Center. Boise State is feeling good after sweeping last week’s action with a win over San Jose State and a thumping of Utah State on Saturday afternoon. UNLV is also looking to keep things rolling after their 84-77 upset over then ranked #21 New Mexico in Albuquerque.
The Rebels opened up their season red-hot winning 11 of their first 12 games before dropping their first two games of Mountain West play. UNLV is ranked 53 in the NET with four wins in Quad 1 & 2. They have beaten two power 5 teams in Minnesota and Washington State as well as perennial tournament team Dayton.
The Runnin’ Rebels want to live up to their name and will pressure the ball on defense and love to get out in the fastbreak. UNLV is forcing a conference-best 20 turnovers per game and is averaging over 17 points per game off of turnovers. There have been a few games this season where they have scored over 30 points off of turnovers. They also love to run, averaging close to 18 fast break points per game. If Boise State doesn’t get back in transition they could be in trouble Wednesday night.
UNLV is led by a trio of Rebels, two by transfer and one homegrown. EJ Harkless is an Oklahoma transfer who was a two-year starter for the Sooners and is in his first year with the Rebels. Then you have Luis Rodriguez who went from being a Rebel to a Runnin’ Rebel when he transferred from Ole Miss to UNLV. In two seasons in Oxford, Rodriguez appeared in 60 games, making 51 starts. Lastly you have homegrown sophomore guard Keshon Gilbert who is in his second season with the Rebels, but his first season as a full time starter. Rounding out the starting five for the Running Rebs are Justin Webster and David Muoka. Webster was thrusted into the starting five after a knee injury to transfer Eli Parquet. Parquet played last season at Colorado and was a key part to the Rebels 10-0 start, before going down in the first half against Washington State and didn’t return. David Muoka is your typical board clearing, paint-protecting big man. Muoka averages 5 points, 5.6 boards and 1.5 blocks per game.
The Rebels are coached by Kevin Krueger. The former UNLV student-athlete and assistant coach, Kruger was appointed the new head coach on March 21, 2021. In his first year with the team, Kruger led the Runnin’ Rebels to 18 wins- the most for UNLV in four seasons. The team went 10-8 in Mountain West play, exceeding preseason expectations with a fifth-place finish.
The Broncos and the Rebs have met on the hardwood 23 times dating back to December 2010. Boise State is 14-9 all-time in those meetings. The Broncos have won 5 straight against the Rebels. However, Boise State does not fare well inside Thomas and Mack. The Broncos have gone 4-7 all-time when visiting UNLV.
What Happened Last Season
Boise State went 2-0 in their matches against UNLV last season. Both meetings were in February about two weeks apart. In the first meeting Abu Kigab and Tyson Degenhart each scored in double digits in the second half as the Boise State men's basketball team overcame its largest halftime deficit of the season to beat UNLV 69-63. After falling down 13-4 early in the first half Boise State responded with a 6-0 run, during which they forced UNLV to go 0-of-6 from the floor. With just under six minutes remaining in the period, Kigab spotted up in the corner and drilled the Broncos' first 3-pointer of the game, which gave Boise State its first lead, 23-22.
UNLV closed the first half by outscoring the Broncos 14-5 in the final five minutes and held a 36-29 advantage heading into the break. Degenhart and Marcus Shaver, Jr. combined to score nine points on a 13-2 Boise State run to open the second half that gave the Broncos a 42-38 lead. Degenhart finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Shaver chipped in 13 points, three assists and three rebounds. Mladen Armus was the fourth Bronco in double figures, scoring 12 points to go along with seven boards.Kigab finished the game with a team-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds. Rebels' Bryce Hamilton poured in a game-high 32 points.
In meeting number two, Marcus Shaver, Jr. and Abu Kigab combined for 50 points as Boise State took care of business on the road, beating UNLV 86-76.Shaver poured in a game-high 27 points and Kigab added 23. Tyson Degenhart was the third Bronco in double figures, scoring 10 points to go along with three rebounds. Emmanuel Akot finished with nine points, six rebounds and three assists.
Boise State came out of the gates firing on offense, making six of its first seven attempts from the floor including 3-for-3 from downtown. Kigab scored eight of the Broncos' first 12 points as Boise State built a first-half lead as large as 13 with just over 12 minutes to play in the period.
UNLV responded with an 18-5 run over the next five minutes to pull within one, 30-29, but the Broncos outscored the Rebels by five points in the remainder of the half to enter the break up 47-41. Fifteen of the Broncos' season-high first half points came from Shaver.
The Rebels flipped the script to open the second half, outscoring the Broncos 14-6 to take their first lead of the night, 55-53, with 15:33 remaining in the game. The two teams traded buckets over the next three minutes before a 9-2 run put Boise State out in front 69-64 with 8:40 left on the clock. Shaver scored eight of the final 14 points for the Broncos, including seven-in-a-row across a three-minute span, to keep UNLV at bay and close out the victory.
Player to Watch
NEVADA-LAS VEGAS
FIFTH YEAR., EJ HARKLESS, G#55
The fifth year Harkless is in his first season with the Runnin’ Rebels, but he’s already established himself as one of the veteran leaders on the team. UNLV went heavy in the transfer game this last offseason, bringing in a plethora of talent from other schools. Harkless, the transfer from Oklahoma, also played a couple of seasons at Cal State Northridge to start his collegiate career. The 6’3” guard currently leads the team in points per game, averaging over 16 points in just over 30 minutes per game. Harkless has scored more than 16 points 8 times this season, including in six straight. He’s started all 15 games so far this season and has been the leading scorer in five of them.
BOISE STATE
SO., TYSON DEGENHART., F #2
The sophomore from Spokane, Washington tallied his first career double-double on Saturday scoring a team-leading 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Tyson will have an opportunity Wednesday night to go against a number of defenders that will be smaller than the 6’7” forward. UNLV likes to play “small” which will allow Degenhart to use his size to his advantage. Not only that, Degenhart looked to have regained some of his shooting stroke, going 2-for-2 on three-point attempts against the Aggies. Degenhart will have to have another big game for the Broncos Wednesday night.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Boise State
Nevada-Las Vegas
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Transition Defense
The Runnin’ Rebels will try to live up to their name and score easy transition buckets. If the Broncos can focus on getting “back” on defense making UNLV operate out of their set offense, the Broncos defense should have the upper hand. If UNLV is able to get out and run it could be a long night for the Broncos.
Control the Ball
Boise State has done a pretty good job this season limiting their turnovers on offense. Right now they sit third in the conference, committing just over 11 turnovers a game. They will really have to focus on taking care of the basketball Wednesday night as the Rebels lead the conference in forcing turnovers. They are forcing over 20 per game which is not only tops in the Mountain West, but second in the nation in that category. If the Broncos can limit the turnovers and more importantly the points off of turnovers they will be in good shape.
Editor Note:
All Came Together
Saturday was a glimpse of what can happen when everything comes together for the Broncos. Their defense was smothering and on offense the ball was finding the bottom of the net. Boise State limited the best offense in the Mountain West to 21 less than their season average and the Broncos themselves cracked the 80-point mark for the fifth time this season. When both the offense and the defense comes together there aren’t many teams in the Mountain West that can beat these Broncos. If they can keep this up the sky is definitely the limit for Boise State.
UNLV does force a lot of turnovers, but they themselves have a tendency to get sloppy with the ball from time to time. With how well Leon’s team is playing defense I don’t see how these Broncos can’t steal a very important win on the road.
Boise State 78, UNLV 69
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