LAS VEGAS-Monday and Wednesday, Utah State men’s basketball (12-4, 9-1 in Mountain West play) visits the Thomas & Mack Center to face UNLV (5-6, 2-2 in MWC play) as the Mountain West conference season ensues for both squads.
The Aggies are 64-12 (.842) in the Craig Smith era (66-19, .776 at Utah State; 145-74, .662 as a Division I head coach) when they outrebound opponents. The Aggies have won on the glass every game this season.
The Aggies are tied for third nationally in rebounds (660) with Radford and are ranked 17th nationally in rebounds per game (41.3). Utah State is also 2nd nationally in rebounding margin per game (+11; 41.3 rebounds per game-29.7 boards per contest).
Utah State has 75 blocked shots on the season, ranking the Aggies 11th nationally.
The Aggies score 75.8 points per game, tying Utah State for 94th nationally in scoring offense with Colorado. Utah State surrenders 61.1 points per game. This ranks the Aggies 16th nationally in scoring defense.
Utah State’s statistical leader in all major statistical categories remains Portuguese national Neemias Queta, a junior center.
Queta amasses 12.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. His 45 blocked shots rank him 4th nationally while he also has 48 assists and 22 steals.
Other Aggies to score in double figures on-average include redshirt junior guard Marco Anthony (10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds per game) and junior forward Justin Bean (10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds per game).
UNLV scores 74.5 points per game, ranking the Rebels 121st nationally in scoring offense.
Defensively, the Rebels surrender 66 points per game. This ties UNLV for 72nd nationally in scoring defense with Colorado State and Marist.
Junior guard Bryce Hamilton leads the Rebels in scoring (20.3 points per game, 27th nationally) and assists (36).
The only other Rebel to score in double figures is junior guard David Jenkins Jr. (14.5 points per game).
UNLV’s leader on the glass is Senegalese national, senior forward Cheikh Mbacke Diong (8.5 rebounds per game).
Sophomore guard Caleb Grill leads the Rebels in steals with 20 and sophomore forward Moses Wood has 10 blocked shots to pace UNLV in that category.
UNLV is coached by T.J. Otzelberger, who is 22-21 (.512) in his second season at Las Vegas. Otzelberger is 92-54 (.630) as a Division I head coach including his time at South Dakota State (2016-2019).
The Rebels have dominated the series against the Aggies traditionally, leading 33-9. At Las Vegas, the Rebels lead the series 18-2.
The Aggies have won four out of their last five games against the Rebels, however.
