VANCOUVER - Nearly three months before the 2022-23 Canada West season commences the UBC Thunderbirds look forward to hosting one of the top NCAA Division 1 basketball programs in history as the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin' Rebels will visit War Memorial Gym for a late-summer showdown on Tuesday, August 16th with tip off set for 7:00 p.m.
 
"When we were first approached by Maury Hanks about the possibility of playing a game against UNLV we jumped at the opportunity," said longtime UBC bench boss & the all-time leader in Canada West coaching wins Kevin Hanson. "To have such a historic program play a game at War Memorial Gym is great for our local basketball community and our Program. It is early for both teams but it serves as an exciting starting point to the new season."


 
The unique opportunity to face the renowned Runnin' Rebels marks the first game action for the T-Birds since their appearance in the Canada West quarterfinal back on March 5^th against the University of Saskatchewan. Fresh off a 19-5 overall record, and a dominant 11-0 record at home in 2021-2022, notable returnees Sukhman Sandhu and Jack Cruz-Dumont will help lead UBC against a UNLV squad that finished 18-14 last season playing out of the Mountain West Conference.
 

Daily deposits ?? pic.twitter.com/WZr08PYUap

— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) July 14, 2022

Led by head coach Kevin Kruger, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels bring the fourth best all-time NCAA Division 1 winning percentage (71.2%) North of the border. Since 1975, UNLV has appeared in 20 NCAA Division 1 Tournaments and can lay claim to five appearances the Elite Eight, four stops in the Final Four and one National Championship victory in 1990 – A dominant 103-73 victory over Duke. Their most recent entry into the NCAA Division 1 tournament was in 2013. Noteworthy UNLV alumni include: Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Shawn Marion, Anthony Bennett and Christian Wood.
 

Happy 4th of July ???? pic.twitter.com/3vPUC8WVhb

— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) July 4, 2022

Not only did UNLV capture the National Championship in 1990, but later that same year in December, they paid a visit to Vancouver and B.C. Place for HoopFest '90. On December 1^st, 1990 the late Jerry Tarkanian-led Runnin' Rebels earned a dominant victory over the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers 109-68 in the headlining game. The HoopFest undercard included 16-team boys and girls high school tournaments, and a memorable matchup between UBC and the Victoria Vikes – One which saw UBC prevail 96-83. Current Thunderbirds head coach Kevin Hanson was an assistant coach with the T-Birds at that time. To read more about HoopFest '90 and Vancouver's 'Coming of Age' as a basketball city, check out Howard Tsumura's "Sunday Read" from December 5, 2020.


 
The role of 'host' is nothing new for the UBC Thunderbird men who most recently welcomed the NCAA Division 1 California State Bakersfield Roadrunners (CSU) for an exhibition clash back on August 22, 2019 in front of a frenzied home crowd at the War Memorial Gym. That night the T-Birds took a seven-point lead into the final quarter before dropping a hard-fought contest. A year prior in June, the T-Birds welcomed Team China's national team for an unforgettable exhibition friendly that took place in advance of the Pacific Rim Classic.


 
Tickets for the unique meeting are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for UBC students and youth aged 5 to 17, while children aged 4 and under will receive free entry.

Click for more details and to purchase tickets.

Stay tuned to all T-Birds channels for more detailed ticket information to be made available later this month.
 
UNLV's visit to British Columbia will also include two additional games against further Canada West competition. The following evening will see the Runnin' Rebels face the Calgary Dinos on Wednesday, August 17^th also at UBC (tickets for Calgary vs UNLV are also available in the above link), before they head up the highway to face the University of Fraser Valley (UVF) Cascades on Friday, August 19^th.
 
The 2022-23 regular season for the UBC Men's basketball program begins Saturday, November 12^th against the UNBC Timberwolves as part of a Saturday-Sunday home double-header weekend. For the full Men's basketball schedule and more, click here.