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UNLV vs. Air Force: How To Watch, Preview, Prediction
Will the Rebels get the win?
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UNLV needs to get back on track
The UNLV Runnin Rebels are coming off a loss to Fresno State. In each of their conference losses, the Rebels have been defeated by double digits in all five of those games.
The Rebels need to come out of the gate strong against the Air Force Falcons on Tuesday night. Part of the reason why each conference loss been by double digits is that this team gets off to slow starts. UNLV needs to keep the game competitive early on and avoid those pitfalls.
UNLV is going to need to create more stops in tonight’s matchup against Air Force. In the last game, these two teams played UNLV gave up 106 points. Coach Menzies team must play better defense if they hope to have a shot to win against the Falcons.
The Rebels should look to take advantage of the height disparity between the teams two frontcourts. UNLV is a good offensive rebounding team and dominating on the glass will be a big key for the Rebels getting a win.
UNLV should expect a shootout. If the Rebels can knock down three-point shots this will be a fun game. Players like Noah Robotham and Kris Clyburn need to step up in this matchup in order to keep the Rebels in the game.
For coach Falcons coach Dave Pilipovich his team should feel good about tonight’s matchup against UNLV.
The last time they played the Rebels the Falcons scored the most points the team has ever scored in the Mountain West with Air Force winning 106-88. However, the Falcons have struggled at the Thomas & Mack and have not won there since 2014.
In the Falcons last game against Wyoming, Lavelle Scottie scored a season-high 34 points and Air Force will need a performance like that to get the win. The frontcourt duo of Lavelle Scottie and Ryan Swan are the Falcons best players as that duo combined for 36 points in the last game against the Rebels.
If Air Force can get role players going the way they did in their first matchup the Falcons can sweep UNLV in the season series. Air Force got 37 bench points against the Rebels last game. Production from players outside of Swan and Scottie will be key if the Falcons are able to sweep the season series against UNLV
WHO: UNLV Rebels (22-1, 9-1 MW) vs. Air Force Falcons (10-12, 4-6 MW)
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 12 — 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Thomas & Mack; Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAM: Get a one-week trial of FuboTV.
ODDS: Rebels -9
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