Utah State Aims to Dominate UNLV in Critical Mountain West Clash

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun is preparing his team for a pivotal matchup against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday night. The game, set to tip off at 9 p.m. MT, offers the Aggies a chance to gain valuable experience in the arena that will host the Mountain West Conference tournament later this season.

“I think it’s awesome. It gives you a great opportunity to [get some experience there], right?” Calhoun said. “That’s a neat thing for our guys, especially some of the new guys. … For them to get some run in that big arena would be good.”

Despite UNLV’s recent struggles, losing their last two games, Calhoun emphasized the challenge of facing the Rebels on their home court. “The reality of it is they’re 8-1 at home, so I don’t really look at the last two games, losing on the road. It’s totally different,” he said. “This team is exceptionally good at home, so we’ve got to play much better defensively.”

UNLV’s sophomore guard Dedan Thomas, who averages 16.1 points and 4.4 assists per game, poses a significant threat. “The head of the snake is Thomas, a tremendous, tremendous player, one of the best point guards in this conference,” Calhoun noted. “He’s kind of their engine, but they’ve got a bunch of other guys and they shoot it from deep more than most teams.”

Utah State guard Dexter Akkano echoed his coach’s sentiments, acknowledging UNLV’s potential despite their 9-7 record. “They’re just kind of trying to find their footing,” Akkano said, “but we understand they’re a very dangerous team.”

The Aggies, now 16-1 and ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, are riding high after a thrilling victory over Boise State. A win against UNLV would bolster their confidence heading into a week off and provide momentum as they eye a strong performance in the Mountain West tournament.

With their stellar record, Utah State is positioning itself as a strong contender for an NCAA tournament bid, potentially bypassing the need for a conference tournament win to secure their spot in March Madness.