Game day: UNLV basketball looks to make it two in a row

1 month ago 10

Rebels vs Fresno State

UNLV Rebels head coach Kevin Kruger talks to players during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Photo by Steve Marcus

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 | 7 p.m.

Coming off Saturday's grind-it-out win at Wyoming, UNLV basketball looks to make it two in a row against a hapless Air Force team at the Thomas & Mack Center (7 p.m., Mountain West Network).

Three keys to watch:

Shooting touch

Air Force is objectively terrible. The Falcons are still searching for their first conference win (0-13), and the only conceivable way they could do it tonight is with a hot shooting performance — which Kevin Kruger knows full well.

At Monday's practice, the UNLV head coach warned that perimeter defense and closing out on 3-point shooters will be paramount.

Henley stays hot

On the other side, UNLV would do well to work the ball against AFA's zone defense and target junior wing Jaden Henley, who is enjoying an excellent shooting season. Henley is up to 41.9% from long distance in Mountain West play, and with the way UNLV has struggled to generate scoring from beyond the arc — just 6.7 makes per game, good for 306th in the nation — finding the hot hand is probably a good idea.

Finish the sweep

Last year, Air Force came into the Mack and handed the Scarlet and Gray one of their most stunning defeats of the past decade, blowing out the home team, 90-58. Anyone who was on the court for that matchup — most notably, D.J. Thomas — should probably make it a priority to come out with energy and prevent an upset loss from sapping any chance at building some late-season momentum.

Team leaders

UNLV (12-12, 6-7 MWC)

Scoring

D.J. Thomas: 16.3 points

Rebounding

Jeremiah "Bear" Cherry: 5.3 rebounds

Assists

D.J. Thomas: 4.6 assists

Air Force (3-21, 0-13 MWC)

Scoring

Ethan Taylor: 15.3 points

Rebounding