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March 19, 2024

Rebels Basketball:

Blog: Rebels make it 3 in a row with 74-63 victory against Air Force

UNLV Basketball Team Faces New Mexico

L.E. Baskow

UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn (1) and UNLV guard Patrick McCaw (2) are excited as the score is tied up during their game with New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.

Updated Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 | 8:59 p.m.

UNLV 74, Air Force 63

Game over

Five Rebels scored in double figures UNLV controlled the game most of the second half on the way to a 74-63 victory tonight against Air Force. It's the Rebels' third straight victory, and their reward is a week off from games before traveling next Saturday to Colorado State.

Chris Wood led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds, his 12th double-double, followed by Jelan Kendrick, who had a solid game with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, five assists and four rebounds. Pat McCaw, Rashad Vaughn and Cody Doolin each scored 11.

UNLV dominated points off turnovers, leading the way 27-3. A big part of that was that the Rebels committed only five turnovers, something they've been really good at the past few games.

Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from the Rebels' victory.

The Rebel Room

Another shot at Reno

Las Vegas Sun sports writers Ray Brewer and Taylor Bern get into the Rebels' chance for vengeance at UNR after the Rebels managed to finally win a close game. Also, Brewer breaks down some of UNLV football's commits.

UNLV has a tendency to play to its competition. When that competition is Arizona, that’s a good thing. When the opponent is, say UNR, it causes problems, and that has to be on the top of the Rebels’ minds today as they welcome in Air Force, the second-worst team in the conference.

The Falcons’ two conference victories came against San Jose State, which has no wins this season against Division I competition. The only way this will be close is if the Rebels allow Air Force to stay in it, and that might be exactly what happens.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. in the Thomas & Mack Center and will stream on ESPN3.

No one currently with Air Force (9-11, 2-7) averages even double digits. The only guy who did is senior Max Yon, who’s not with the team because of personal reasons. The Falcons also lost senior Kamryn Williams to an Achilles injury, so just as conference play started they had to adjust to life without their two best players. It hasn’t gone well.

What does that mean for UNLV (12-9, 3-5)? Well, other than an advantage at pretty much every spot on the court, it means the Rebels should dominate inside.

Freshman Goodluck Okonoboh, who’s going to start despite his right foot injury, and sophomore Christian Wood should be able to control the action down low at both ends. So long as they stay out of foul trouble.

Air Force traditionally runs a lot of backdoor cuts, which could mean a lot of guards charging toward the rim as the help defense rotates over. Often that’s going to be either Okonoboh or Wood, and how well they handle that could dictate how long they’re able to remain on the court.

If that’s a concern, though, UNLV could clog the lane with a zone and test Air Force’s outside shooting. The Falcons hit 37.4 percent out there, so I don’t expect to see much zone since that’s often UNLV coach Dave Rice’s top defensive priority, but it’s an option.

Bern’s prediction: Ugly, but a victory. UNLV 65, Air Force 58

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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