The Mountain West Conference comes to primetime when the New Mexico Lobos (4-7, 0-7) visit the UNLV Rebels (3-6, 1-2) on Monday, January 18, 2021. New Mexico is second from the bottom in the MWC and UNLV sits in seventh place. This game will air live on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Through 11 games, the New Mexico offense is averaging 65.1 points per game and are shooting just 39.4% from the field. The Lobos are averaging 39.6 rebounds per game and 11.3 assists. Makuach Maluach leads the team with 13.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds, and Saquan Singleton is dishing out 2.3 assists. Defensively, the Lobos are allowing 72.8 points and averaging 3.9 blocks and 5.1 steals per game.
After nine games, the UNLV offense is averaging 74.1 points per game and are shooting 45.5% from the field. The Rebels are grabbing 35.2 rebounds and are dishing out 13.7 assists per game. Bryce Hamilton leads the team with 21.0 points per game and is dishing out a team high 3.7 assists, while Cheikh Mbacke Diong has a team high 8.1 rebounds. Defensively, the Rebels are allowing 70.6 points and averaging 2.2 blocks and 6.9 steals per game.
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New Mexico Lobos at UNLV Rebels (-11.5): O/U 139.5 (-105/-114)
With the Mountain West Conference playing two-game series this season, these two teams played just two days ago, and UNLV came away with a dominant 77-54 win. New Mexico never led in this game and UNLV held a 26-point advantage at one point. UNLV led by double-digits from the 14:11 mark in the first half until the end of the game.
New Mexico shot just 33.3% (17-51) from the field and 16.7% (3-18) from beyond the arc. The Lobos were fortunate to shoot 73.9% (17-23) from the free throw line or they may have lost by close to 40 points. Makuach Maluach led the Lobos with 13 points, Bayron Matos had a team high seven rebounds, and Saquan Singleton and Isaiah Marin dished out a team high three assists.
UNLV were hot from the floor in this one as they shot 50.9% (29-57) from the field, 37.0% (10-27) from beyond the arc, and 75.0% (9-12) from the free throw line. Cheikh Mbacke Diong led the team with 20 points, but Bryce Hamilton had the best all-around game with 19 points, seven assists and eight rebounds on the night.
Series History: These teams have met 63 times in the past and UNLV holds a 38-25 advantage.
Free Basketball Prediction: Give me UNLV -11.5 to get the big win and to sweep the Lobos out of Vegas.
2020-2021 CBB Pick Record: 2-1