Mountain West Conference 1st Round
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Where to watch: Mountain West Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: UNLV -6.5
FanDuel: UNLV -6.5
BetMGM: UNLV -6.5
Caesars: UNLV -6.5
Season record
Air Force: 14-17
UNLV: 18-12
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Air Force - UNLV preview, prediction and analysis
The Mountain West Conference tournament first-round game between the Air Force Falcons and UNLV Runnin' Rebels on March 8, 2023, promises to be a thrilling encounter between two competitive teams.
The Air Force Falcons finished the regular season with a 14-17 record and a 5-13 conference record. They secured the 10th seed in the tournament and will be looking to make an impact in the quarterfinals. The Falcons are led by Jake Heidbreder, who averaged 14.8 points per game. Heidbreder is an explosive scorer who can knock down shots from beyond the arc and finish at the rim. He will be a key player for the Falcons if they hope to advance to the next round.
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels finished the regular season with an 18-12 record and a 7-11 conference record. They secured the 7th seed in the tournament and are considered one of the favorites to win the championship. The Rebels are led by senior guard EJ Harkless, who averaged 18.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Mountain West Conference Second Team. Harkless is a dominant force on the court, and he will be looking to lead his team to victory in the quarterfinals.
The Falcons and Rebels only played once earlier in the season, a 54-53 close victory for UNLV at home. Harkless scored the winning putback with less than a second to go, so any thought that Air Force might be overmatched in this one doesn't apply.
Despite the two losses to UNLV, the Falcons will be looking to put up a fight in the quarterfinals. They have been competitive in most of their games this season, and they have the potential to cause an upset. The key for Air Force will be to contain Harklessand limit his impact on the game.
On the other hand, the Rebels will be looking to continue their dominance over the Falcons. They have a talented roster, and they will be looking to make a statement in the quarterfinals. The key for UNLV will be to continue to play their style of basketball and execute their game plan. They will also need their role players to step up and make important contributions on both ends of the court.
Overall, the Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinal game between the Air Force Falcons and UNLV Runnin' Rebels promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Falcons will be looking to cause an upset and advance to the next round, while the Rebels will be looking to continue their dominance and move one step closer to the championship. With both teams having talented players and the potential to put up a big performance, this game is sure to be a must-watch for basketball fans.
Prediction
If UNLV can harness any homecourt advantage from this, they should at least win a game here. This would seem to be Harkless' time to shine. UNLV 78, Air Force 67
Projected starting lineup
Air Force:
PG: Marcell McCreary
SG: Jake Heidbreder
SF: Ethan Taylor
PF: Rytis Petraitis
C: Beau Becker
UNLV:
PG: E.J. Harkless
SG: Justin Webster
SF: Keshon Gilbert
PF: Elijah Parquet
C: Victor Iwuakor
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