LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Running' Rebels open Mountain West tournament play against the rival Aztecs at the Thomas and Mack Center on Thursday.
After tying for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference, the UNLV men's basketball team gained the fifth seed in the MWC tourney.
The team won 11 league games for the first time in eight seasons, and those victories helped the team earn a first-round bye.
San Diego State (19-12) is the tournament's fourth seed and finished just ahead of UNLV (17-13) in conference play.
SDSU enters Thursday's contest on a two-game losing streak while the Rebels took their last two regular season games - including a 65-60 road victory at Colorado State.
The Aztecs finished 2-0 against UNLV this season. However, the Rebels were able to turn a 17-point loss in San Diego into a 1-point loss at home back in February.
UNLV will once again be led senior guards Kris Clyburn (13.9 ppg), and Noah Robotham (5.1 apg) as the team looks to advance to the MW Tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 2014 and secure its first postseason win over San Diego State since 2003.
Thursday's game is scheduled to tip-off at 2:30 p.m.
Ticket options are available here with the game carried on CBS Sports Network.
