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UNLV vs. Nevada Preview & Score Prediction
Check out the UNLV vs. Nevada game preview and score prediction
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UNLV (20-12, 8-10) vs. Nevada (26-6, 15-3) Game Preview
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Game Info
Date: Thursday, March 8th
Tip-off: 12:00 pm PT
Venue: Thomas & Mack, Las Vegas, Nevada
Radio: ESPN Radio 1100 AM/100.9 FM Las Vegas
TV/stream: CBS Sports Network
Projected Runnin’ Rebels Lineup
G Jordan Johnson
G Jovan Mooring
F Tervelle Beck
F ShakurJuiston
C Brandon McCoy – notched a double double, with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the teams win over Air Force
Projected Nevada Lineup
G Hallice Cook
G Kendall Stephens
F Caleb Martin
F Cody Martin
F Jordan Caroline – scored a game high 29 points in the teams loss to SDSU
Why UNLV Will Win
The Runnin’ Rebels only real advantage against this UNR team is their front court. Brandon McCoy and Shakur Juiston make up one of, if not the best, front courts in the conference. With Nevada being a relatively small team, no starter over 6’7″, McCoy and Juiston will need to be dominant scoring in the paint, and also dominant on the boards. Nevada likes to push the tempo, and the best way to mitigate that is to secure offensive rebounds. In addition to big games from their front court duo, the Runnin’ Rebels will need their high volume scoring guard, Jovan Mooring, to break out of his 6 game long shooting slump. Mooring went off for 31 points in the Rebels win at Reno, and he will need a similar performance if the Rebels are going to hang in this game and have any chance of winning.
Why Nevada Will Win
They are the best team in the conference, they have an offense that is capable of putting up points in a hurry, and that could spell trouble for a UNLV team that has struggled defending for most of the conference season. Jordan Caroline has been on tear, and in the two meetings against the Rebels he went off for 18 and 21 points, largely victimizing freshman center Brandon McCoy by getting him out in space and blowing by him to the basket. If Caroline is successful getting to the basket early, that will open up the rest of the floor for the sharp shooting Kendall Stephens (44% from 3-pt range), and the Martin brothers, both of whom are averaging double figures in scoring. Caleb 19 points per game, and Cody at 14.
KenPom Line
UNR -13, o/u 169
Score Prediction
UNLV 80, UNR 87