LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Returning to Las Vegas for the second time this week, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (8-3) will aim to knock off a Mountain West foe when they take on undefeated UNLV (10-0) on Saturday afternoon at Thomas & Mack Center.
 
GAME 12 DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022
Time: 2:00 pm PT
Opponent: UNLV (10-0)
Site: Thomas & Mack Center
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Mountain West Network
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Last time out, USF dropped a hard-fought battle to New Mexico (9-0), 67-64, on Monday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Notably, Khalil Shabazz finished with a team-high 18 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds while Volodymyr Markovetskyy finished in double figures for the second straight game with 12 points and a season-high eight rebounds.
• Making an impact from deep, Josh Kunen enters the game tied for seventh in the conference in three-point percentage with a 48.0 percent clip from distance. Additionally, Shabazz ranks tenth in the WCC with an average of 14.3 points per game through USF's first eleven games.
• With this matchup, USF will square off against an undefeated Mountain West team for the third time this year (Utah State, New Mexico). Following this battle in the desert, the Dons will return home to host three opponents in four days – UT Arlington (Dec. 19), Arizona State (Dec. 21) and Hartford (Dec. 22) to close out their non-conference schedule.

SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' REBELS:

• Off to their best start in 32 years (1990-91), UNLV is one of only seven remaining undefeated teams in the country. In their last time on the hardwood, the Runnin' Rebels edged Washington State, 74-70, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 10. 
• With 10 of their 15 student-athletes being upperclassmen, UNLV is deep and poised as Keshon Gilbert (15.5 ppg), EJ Harkless (14.6 ppg) and Luis Rodriguez (11.9 ppg) are all averaging double figures. Notably, Rodriguez also ranks 26th nationally with an average of 2.4 steals per game.
• 2022-23 marks the second year at the helm of the Runnin' Rebels for Kevin Kruger. Following the 2021-22 season, Kruger was named one of 15 finalists for the Joe B. Hall Award, which is presented annually to the top first-year coach in Division I men's college basketball by collegeinsider.com. Previously serving as an assistant for the Runnin' Rebels for two seasons (2019-21), he was hired as head coach in March 2021.   

SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday will mark the 17th meeting all-time between the two programs as UNLV currently holds the lead in the all-time series, 9-7. Last season, the Dons defeated the Runnin' Rebels by 21 points, 83-62, at home on the Hilltop on Dec. 4, 2021. Notably, USF has not won on the road in Las Vegas since a 78-69 victory over UNLV on Jan. 8, 1972. 
 
TRACK THE ACTION:
Saturday's contest will air live via the Mountain West Network and KNBR 1050. Live streaming, radio and live statistics links are available above or via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.