Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Rebels Basketball:

For locals playing for Southern Utah basketball, game at UNLV will be special night

UNLV SUU

Asher Swan / The Spectrum & Daily News

UNLV’s Jelan Kendrick steals the ball from Southern Utah’s Juwan Major during their game Saturday, Dec. 14, in Cedar City, Utah.

UNLV vs. Southern Utah

UNLV's Khem Birch swats the ball away from Southern Utah's Jaren Jeffery during their game Saturday Dec. 14, 2013, in Cedar City, Utah. Launch slideshow »

Trey Kennedy spent his childhood attending UNLV basketball games at the Thomas & Mack Center. Saturday, the sophomore guard at Southern Utah University will mark something off his bucket list, playing against UNLV at the Mack.

Southern Utah has four players from Las Vegas on its roster. Like Kennedy, Saturday will also be their first time playing in the 18,500-seat arena, a staple in the Las Vegas basketball scene. UNLV hosts the Thunderbirds at 7 p.m., looking to build off its victory Tuesday against No. 3 Arizona.

“I can’t wait to play there,” Kennedy said. “When I went there when I was younger, the environment was crazy.”

Kennedy, a Bishop Gorman High product, is joined at Southern Utah by sophomore forward Juwan Major (Las Vegas High), junior Travon Langston (Las Vegas High) and freshman Sherron Wilson (Clark). They’ve been in Las Vegas since Monday, splitting two games in the Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena before going on Christmas break.

“It great for those guys to play three games in Las Vegas in one week in front of family and friends,” Southern Utah coach Nick Robinson said. “To cap off against UNLV will be a great experience for those players.”

Last year, Kennedy and Major received significant playing time during their freshmen season, learning on the fly as Southern Utah finished with a 2-27 record. This year, they are much improved — as a team and individually — entering the UNLV contest with a 3-7 record.

Kennedy averaged 9.5 points per game last season while playing nearly 30 minutes a contest. This season, both he and Major score about five points per game while averaging 20 minutes.

“That experience has helped them tremendously,” Robinson said. “Statistically, their numbers might be down a little this year, but they have improved dramatically.”

While they attended different high schools, the four locals played together in spring and summer leagues, and in the area’s active pickup-game scene.

“We all grew up in the AAU circuit. We know how each other plays,” Kennedy said. “We have that chemistry.”

That chemistry likely won’t be enough to stop UNLV.

The Rebels (8-3), who last year beat Southern Utah 73-51 in Cedar City, are riding high after upsetting Arizona. Saturday is a valuable tune-up game for UNLV, who opens Mountain West play New Year’s Eve at Wyoming.

“Dave Rice does an excellent job coaching young players and giving their guys plenty of freedom offensively,” Robinson said. “They have great athleticism across the board, and good young players with Rashad Vaughn and Chris Wood.”

Wood had 24 points and 10 rebounds against Arizona and was arguably the best player on the court. Vaughn leads UNLV in scoring at 17.1 points per game and freshman Patrick McCaw has offensive player.

It will be the ultimate test for Kennedy and the others. And one of those nights they soon won’t forget, win or lose.

“I went there all the time as a kid,” Kennedy said of the Mack. “I can’t wait to be part of it.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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