The Hofstra University men’s basketball team will hit the road on Thursday, Dec. 21, when they take on the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin’ Rebels in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tip-off is at 10 p.m. as the Pride will look to string together back-to-back wins.

The Pride last took the court on Saturday, Dec. 16, in a 74-58 win over Norfolk State University. Tyler Thomas played all 40 minutes and put up 22 points on 7/17 shooting, his tenth double-digit scoring performance in 11 games so far this season. Darlinstone Dubar and Bryce Washington also added 13 points apiece, and Jaquan Carlos rounded out the top scorers with an even 10.

Carlos also was the team’s best distributor per usual, with 10 assists to bring his season average up to 7.3 per game, which is sixth in the nation.

UNLV is coming into this matchup at 4-5 and are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Saint Mary’s College of California, losing on a buzzer-beater in double overtime after leading with under a minute to play. Despite their struggles, the Runnin’ Rebels have one of the best wins in the country: a 79-64 home thrashing over Creighton University, who were ranked No. 8 in the country at the time. Outside of that win, it has been rough sledding for the Rebels. Losses to Southern University and A&M College, University of Richmond and Florida State University teams have marred this young season for the Rebels.

The Rebels’ offense has four players averaging double figures: Kalib Boone and Dedan Thomas Jr. both with 13.6 points per game, Luis Rodriguez with 11.6 points per game and Jalen Hill with 11.5 points per game. Thomas also leads the team with six assists per game. The offense itself averages 73 points per game, which ranks No. 234 in the country in comparison to Hofstra’s top-100 mark of 78.7 points per contest.

Defensively, it has been an adventure for UNLV all season – the Rebels rank No. 229 in the country with 72.7 points being averaged by their opponents. Their defensive backbone comes in the form of Rodriguez and Boone. Rodriguez is the team’s leading rebounder and adds 2.1 steals per game. Boone leads the team with 1.9 blocks per game.

The Pride will hope to get a non-conference road victory out west before coming back for a contest against St. John’s University at UBS Arena on Saturday, Dec. 30.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Evan Bernstein