COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (12-2) v #25 BYU Cougars (14-1)
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The No. 25 BYU Cougars will host the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV at the Marriott Center in Provo, UT on Wednesday night.
The Cougars fell to the Rebs in a close one, 75-74 in their last meeting on Feb 21, 2009.
UNLV’ s five game winning streak came to an end on Friday night as they fell 67-56 to Southern California in the Diamond Head Classic final in Hawaii. Oscar Bellfield led Rebels with 17 points in the loss. The Trojans frustrated the UNLV holding them to just 34.0 percent shooting and forcing the Rebels into 15 turnovers. However, coming into the game UNLV had been holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting, ranking second in the Mountain West in defense. A couple areas of concern for the Rebels heading into conference play is the lack of depth inside, and their inconsistent shooting. None of the Rebels’ starters is shooting 50 percent, and their 3-point shooting (30.1 percent) has been awful.
Meanwhile, BYU extended their winning streak to nine with a 95-49 thrashing of Division II Eastern New Mexico on Saturday night. Michael Loyd Jr. came off the bench and scored 17 points to lead the Cougars in the win. The Cougars have the most potent offense in the Mountain West Conference and enter the week leading the league in every major offensive category. BYU star Jimmer Fredette leads the conference in scoring with an average of 21.6 points per game. But one place the Cougars fall short is on the boards as just one player is averaging five rebounds per game. The Cougars has scored 88 or more points in each of its last five games coming into Wednesday’s match up.
The odds makers have the Cougars as –10 ½ -point favorites in this one.
UNLV will need to continue to play steady defense and taken good care of the basketball to make up for their lack of scoring. BYU has an explosive offensive and have been proficient defensively, allowing just 62.1 points per game and holding opponents to 39.0 percent from the field.
Expect the Cougars to dominate in the paint extending their home winning streak to nine.
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