LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men’s basketball team (2-1) will continue its season-opening five-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with Pepperdine (1-2) at the Thomas & Mack Center at 7 p.m.

The Runnin’ Rebels started the season with a 93-79 win over Alabama State on Nov. 4, a narrow 80-74 loss to Memphis on Nov. 9 and an 80-69 win against Omaha on Thursday.

Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry led all players in the opener with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds on 10 of 11 shooting. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 17 points and seven assists, while two other Runnin’ Rebels scored in double figures (Julian Rishwain13 points on 4 of 8 three-pointers, and Brooklyn Hicks11 points). UNLV shot 56.9% from the field and 45.0% on three-pointers.

Against Memphis, Thomas Jr. led. the Runnin’ Rebels with 22 points Jalen Hill added fourteen with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Imprison Bedford scored 10 points, while Cherry scored nine points with team highs of seven rebounds and two blocks.

UNLV shot 96% from the free throw line against Omaha, with Hill leading the way with 17 points, eight rebounds and a career-high five assists. Cherry also scored 17 points with four rebounds. Thomas Jr. scored 15 and Jaden Henley contributed 10.

Through the first three games of the season, Thomas Jr. leads. the team in scoring at 18.0 ppg, while Cherry is second at 16.7 ppg and leads in rebounding at 7.3 rpg and field goal percentage at 91.3% (second in the nation). The Runnin’ Rebels are averaging 82.3 ppg.

UNLV is in its fourth season under head coach Kevin Kruger. He has a career record of 60-41.

WEDNESDAY PROMOTIONS: The game against Pepperdine is Native American Heritage Night, with local Powwow dancers performing at halftime in addition to honoring Native American student and alumni groups on campus. The Runnin’ Rebel Family 4-pack will also be available, which includes four tickets to the game, plus four chicken finger baskets starting at just $52 per pack. The deadline for purchase is Tuesday, November 19 at 11:59 PM. Visit UNLVtickets.com buy.

TICKETS: Tickets for UNLV men’s basketball home games are available for purchase at UNLVtickets.comby calling 702-739-FANS (3267) or visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.

ABOUT THE ROSTER: This season’s UNLV roster features six returners from last year’s team, along with 10 newcomers. The newcomers consist of four Division I transfers, one junior college transfer and five freshmen. UNLV has eight upperclassmen, including two sixth-year players. A total of six players on the roster play in their hometown of Las Vegas. The Runnin’ Rebels return two starters at sophomore guard Dedan Thomas Jr.who was the Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year last season and was named to this season’s all-conference team, and senior forward Rob Whaley Jr. Come on Jalen Hill is also back for a sixth year of college after suffering a season-ending knee injury in January. Thomas Jr. led UNLV in scoring and assists last year with 13.6 and 5.1 per game, respectively, Whaley Jr. had averages of 7.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg, while Hill averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg in seven games.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Pepperdine (1-2) opened the season with a 77-64 home win over Western Illinois on Nov. 6, but lost at UC San Diego 94-76 on Nov. 9 and 80-62 at UC Irvine on Saturday. The Waves had a halftime lead against the Anteaters, but were outscored by 20 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. Stefan Todorovic led Pepperdine in that game with 17 points, while Boubacar Coulibaly added 14 points with six rebounds and a career-high five blocks. Moe Odum added 12 points, four rebounds and had a team-high eight assists. Over the team’s first three games, Todorovic averaged 25.0 ppg, while Odum was at 13.3 ppg. Dovydas Butka has a team-leading rpg of 7.3, while Odum leads in assists with 7.7 apg. Pepperdine is in the midst of four straight road games. The Waves were predicted to finish 11th in the West Coast Conference this season. The team posted an overall mark of 13-20 last season and finished sixth in the WCC with a mark of 5-11. Pepperdine, which has seven upperclassmen on its roster, is coached by Ed Schilling, who is in his first season at the school. He previously served as head coach at Wright State from 1997-2003 and has a career record of 76-95. In total, the Waves have twelve newcomers and only two returners (Coulibaly and David Mager).

BROADCAST INFO: Wednesday’s game will air on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (digital channels 5.2 and 125 on Cox in Las Vegas, also available on YouTube TV) and the Mountain West Network with Matt Neverett, former Runnin’ Rebel Curtis Terry and Steve Cofield they call the action. The trio will also host the call on radio via simulcast, heard on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels app.

LAST SEASON: The Runnin’ Rebels are having their best season in more than a decade as they were invited to the postseason for the first time since 2013. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT and won a postseason game for the first time in 16 years. In his third season at the helm, Kruger led the team to 21 wins for the first time since the 2012-13 season and guided the team to a 12-4 record over the last 16 games.

UNLV recorded its first win over a top-10 team in four years, its first in non-conference play in nine seasons and defeated a total of four ranked teams in a single season for the first time in 11 years. 2023-2024 Mountain West Co Freshman of the Year Dedan Thomas Jr. set the Mountain West assists record with 174 and also led the nation in assists among freshmen.