UNLV Men’s Basketball Faces Mississippi State at Arizona Tip-Off: Game Preview and Broadcast Details

UNLV Men’s Basketball Update

The UNLV men’s basketball team stands at 4-1, having won three consecutive games. The team will compete at the Arizona Tip-Off this week. They will face No. 25 Mississippi State (5-0) on Thursday, Nov. 28, and either Butler (4-1) or Northwestern (5-1) on Friday, Nov. 29. The event takes place at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.

Game Schedule:

• UNLV vs. Mississippi State: 7:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. PST on Thanksgiving.
• Friday’s game time: Either 5 p.m. MST / 4 p.m. PST or 7:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. PST.

Recent Performance:
The Runnin’ Rebels concluded a five-game homestand with a 72-65 win over New Mexico State. They began the season with a 93-79 win against Alabama State, followed by an 80-74 loss to Memphis, an 80-69 win over Omaha, and an 80-59 victory against Pepperdine.

Player Highlights:

• Dedan Thomas Jr. leads the team with 17.8 points per game.
• Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry follows with 14.8 points per game and leads in rebounding (7.0 rebounds per game) and field-goal percentage (80.6%).
• Thomas Jr. also holds the assist lead with 3.8 assists per game.
• Jalen Hill leads in steals with 2.8 steals per game.

UNLV averages 79.8 points per game this season. Coach Kevin Kruger is in his fourth season, with a career record of 62-41.

Team Composition:
UNLV has six returning players and ten newcomers this season. The roster includes four Division I transfers, a junior college transfer, and five freshmen. Two players, Dedan Thomas Jr. and Rob Whaley Jr., are returning starters.

Last Game Recap:
In the most recent win against New Mexico State, Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 22 points, and Jalen Hill added 16 points. Four players scored in double figures during this game. The team had a season-low eight turnovers.

Upcoming Opponent Insights:

• Mississippi State: They are unbeaten and led by Josh Hubbard with 20.2 points per game. The team is predicted to finish 10th in the SEC.

• Butler: They have a record of 4-1, led by Pierre Brooks II, who scores 16.6 points per game. They aim for a better season than last year, where they finished 8th in the Big East.

• Northwestern: Also 4-1, led by Nick Martinelli with 23.8 points per game. They were predicted to finish 16th in the Big Ten.

Broadcast Information:
The Arizona Tip-Off will be shown live on CBS Sports Network. Matt McCall and Jack Benjamin will provide commentary. For radio, ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas will cover the games.

Season Overview:
Last season, the Runnin’ Rebels had their best season in over a decade, reaching the NIT quarterfinals. They recorded 21 wins and secured victories against top-ranked teams. Dedan Thomas Jr. set a Mountain West assists record and was recognized for his outstanding performance.