UNLV Runnin' Rebels Head to Malibu for Showdown with Pepperdine Waves

As the UNLV Runnin' Rebels prepare to face the Pepperdine Waves at Firestone Fieldhouse, fans can anticipate a game where recent trends and statistics will play a crucial role. The Rebels are coming off a mixed set of performances in their previous games, showcasing both strengths and areas for improvement.

In their last outing against the Stetson Hatters, the Rebels secured a comfortable victory with 71 points to Stetson's 55. Their offense was efficient from inside the arc, shooting at 50 percent on two-point attempts. They also demonstrated defensive prowess with four blocks and five steals while maintaining an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.4.

However, consistency has been an issue for UNLV as evidenced by their performance against Southern University Jaguars just days earlier. Despite putting up a strong second half where they scored 50 points, it wasn't enough to overcome the Jaguars' offensive onslaught that led to an 85-71 defeat for the Rebels. The team struggled with turnovers in this matchup but showed resilience on defense with six blocks.

The upcoming game presents an opportunity for UNLV to capitalize on their home court advantage and improve upon their three-point shooting which has hovered around 32 percent recently. Rebounding has been solid for the team, but converting those opportunities into points will be key against Pepperdine.

Firestone Fieldhouse is known for its intimate atmosphere which could play into UNLV's favor if they manage to control the pace of the game early on. Fans should expect a competitive clash as both teams look to assert themselves in this non-conference matchup.

The action unfolds on November 18th at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California. Fans can catch all of it live on ESPN+ starting at 3:00 AM UTC (November 17th, local time).