By the Numbers: UNLV looking to avoid familiar letdown at Air Force

By Taylor Bern

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 | 2 a.m.

The Rebels are looking for their second three-game winning streak of league play tonight as they travel to Air Force, which is tied for last place in the Mountain West. The game tips at 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas time and will air on CBS Sports Network.

UNLV (15-11, 6-7) hit the century mark the last time it faced Air Force (12-14, 3-10) in a 100-64 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center. That was UNLV interim coach Todd Simon’s second game and the second of three straight wins for the Rebels.

Here are some numbers to keep in mind as UNLV attempts to complete the season sweep:

1-2 — UNLV’s record last three years at Clune Arena

Since the Rebels don’t travel to San Jose State this season, tonight will be the least intimidating environment they face in the Mountain West. Yet as recent history suggests, it’s a very dangerous spot.

UNLV has lost two of its last three trips to Air Force, and the year before that it needed overtime to escape Clune Arena with a victory. None of the matchups had anything close to a raucous or exciting home environment, and the relatively sterile atmosphere is actually one of the reasons past players have cited Air Force as a difficult place to play.

There’s not much energy to feed off, so if you don’t show up ready to go — something UNLV has been guilty of before — it’s hard to generate much of a flow. Air Force averages a league low 1,593 fans per home game in conference play this season, so just like usual it’s going to be on UNLV to be ready from the start.

9 — Seagears’ steals in wins against San Jose State and Colorado State

UNLV asked senior guard Jerome Seagears to become a more impactful defender, and during a two-game home stand the Rebels saw just how helpful he could be.

Against the Spartans, Seagears doubled his previous career high with six steals and then he added another trio of them against the Rams. In the 14 previous games, Seagears had recorded 10 total steals.

It’s no coincidence that Seagears’ numbers have jumped up as it’s part of how the teams has tried to adapt defensively to its lack of a rim protector.

11 — Average team steals the last two games

While sophomore Pat McCaw, who ranks fourth in the country at 2.7 steals per game, has been swiping the ball from opponents all season, this has been a new emphasis for the entire team lately.

UNLV had double-digit steals against Colorado State and San Jose State, the first time the Rebels have done that in back-to-back games since November. Some of it, certainly, is luck, but the Rebels are also going out of their way to disrupt more passing lanes in part to protect players from foul trouble.

“More preventive defense,” Simon said. “… Just don’t let him catch, it takes you out of harm’s way.”

The Rebels still have enough long-limbed bodies to get in players’ way, and without as much of a defensive presence at the rim, this helps limit the opponents’ opportunities to attack the paint.

31.7 — Average free throw attempts over last three games

The free-throw line has been an uncomfortable place for UNLV this season, but lately they’re trying to exorcise those demons with more frequent visits.

The Rebels have attempted at least 30 free throws in each of the last three games, a first for the season that’s tempered a bit by the fact that they needed double overtime to get there at Fresno State. But at home the numbers soared, and over the last three games UNLV has averaged about nine more free throw attempts per game than the first 10 contests of league play (22.6 attempts per game).

The Rebels have been better than average in the Mountain West at getting to the line but their shooting percentage (68.2) has consistently ranked near the bottom. No matter how they’re shooting once they get there, though, the Rebels would always take more chances at the free-throw line, and lately that’s been a positive.

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