Offense meets defense when the No. 21 New Mexico Lobos (14-1, 2-1 MWC) play host to the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (11-3, 0-2 MWC) on Saturday. UNLV dropped their last game against the San Diego State Aztecs 76-67 at Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.
With 24 points and six rebounds, Luis Rodriguez led the way in the losing effort. The Runnin’ Rebels fell to 11th in the Mountain West Conference. New Mexico came up short on Tuesday at Save Mart Center, falling to the Fresno State Bulldogs 71-67.
Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 22 points in defeat, carrying the team. The Lobos are fifth in the Mountain West Conference. It’s the only meeting of the season between the teams. UNLV and New Mexico split their matchups last season, each team taking one.
The Lobos came out on top in the last meeting 76-67 at The Pit in March 2022. Jaelen House led the Lobos with 27 points and six rebounds. Bryce Hamilton had 28 points in the loss. EJ Harkless is averaging 16.0 points per game to lead the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring this season.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game, and Keshon Gilbert is dishing 3.7 assists. Mashburn Jr. (17.5 ppg), House (17.0), and Morris Udeze (15.9) have supplied much of the Lobos’ offense. House also has recorded 5.0 assists per game. Meanwhile, Josiah Allick has collected 8.0 rebounds per game.
The Runnin’ Rebels are the country’s 24th-best team in defensive efficiency, while the Lobos rank 27th in offensive efficiency. The teams have split their last 10 clashes at The Pit (5-5). In the last 10 games, UNLV is 7-3 with an average margin of +12.1 (78.5-66.4). New Mexico has a 9-1 record over the last 10, scoring 83.7 points per game on average while allowing 69.4 (+14.3 margin).
RUNNIN’ REBELS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Elijah Parquet: 3.0 | 9.0 | -6.0
Points per game:
Justin Webster: 9.6 | 7.4 | +2.2
Keshon Gilbert: 9.0 | 12.5 | -3.5
Rebounds per game:
David Muoka: 3.4 | 5.5 | -2.1
Assists per game:
EJ Harkless: 4.6 | 3.5 | +1.1
LOBOS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
KJ Jenkins: 11.0 | 8.3 | +2.7
Morris Udeze: 11.4 | 15.9 | -4.5
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
New Mexico -5.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
