GAME NOTES: The Runnin' Rebels of UNLV finish off a three-game road trip on Saturday as they clash with the South Dakota Coyotes in non-conference action at the Sanford Pentagon.

UNLV, which is heading back to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas next week for the first time since Nov. 29, has split a pair of games on the road following the 75-59 win over Albany in Sin City. The team was trounced by Arizona State, 77-55, to kick off the month of December, but then bounced back with a resounding 113-53 thrashing of St. Katherine at nearby Orleans Arena in order to move to 5-2 on the campaign.

The team has been out of action since the win over St. Katherine on Dec. 5 in order to focus on final exams.

As for the Coyotes, they've had their ups and downs through the first 10 games of 2014-15, losing five games to begin the campaign before defeating three straight foes. Unfortunately, South Dakota has landed back in the loss column the last two outings, falling to both Youngstown State (87-79) and Creighton (91-88 2 OT) in a span of four days.

With regard to the all-time series between these two programs, this is the first-ever meeting. Against teams that currently comprise the Summit League, which is where the Coyotes are a member, UNLV has a record of 12-2.

In a game that served to boost quite a few stats for the Rebels, three UNLV players registered double-doubles and a total of six scored in double figures as the program shot a sizzling 62.1 percent from the field, including 13-of-22 (.591) behind the 3-point line. Dwayne Morgan led the way off the bench with his 23 points and 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes of action, followed by Christian Wood with 20 points and 11 boards, to go along with five assists and five blocked shots.

Also putting together a strong effort in the paint for the Rebels was Goodluck Okonoboh who responded with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six rejections. Jordan Cornish chipped in 19 points, eight rebounds and six dishes, followed by Cody Doolin with 12 points and six assists as the team had 28 assists on 41 field goals. Patrick McCaw shot only 1-of-5 from the field and finished with a mere five points, but he tried to make up for that and the fact that he was charged with seven turnovers, but posting nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals.

All of the action in the last game for the Rebels took place without Rashad Vaughn being on the floor due to having back spasms and he is the player who currently leads the program in scoring with 16.2 ppg, even though he is shooting only 60.7 percent at the free-throw line. With Vaughn being listed as questionable for this weekend's outing, the Rebels have only Wood as a double- digit scorer, averaging 13.3 ppg, his 9.6 rpg and 25 blocked shots by far the best numbers on the unit as well.

Against Creighton, a team which was 7-2 heading into the meetings, the Coyotes put forth an outstanding effort but came up just short after 50 minutes of action in enemy territory. South Dakota actually led for the majority of the contest, a lead that reached as high as 10 points early in the first half, but in the end they could not push through against the Bluejays.

The visitors had a total of three players score at least 23 points as Tyler Larson tallied a career-high 25 to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists before fouling out. Tre Burnette also had a double-double with 24 points and 10 boards before he too picked up his fifth personal foul. Shooting only 5- of-14 from the floor, Brandon Bos tacked on 23 as he converted all nine of his chances at the free-throw line.

Larson, who knocked down a 3-pointer against Creighton at the end of regulation in order to force overtime, has led the Coyotes in scoring each of the last two games and a total of four times already this season. The inside threat is second on the unit in scoring through 10 games with 16.1 ppg and is not only first on the glass with 8.1 rpg, he is also tops with a total of 36 assists. Bos steps in with 17.0 ppg and 4.1 rpg, but his 39.3 percent accuracy from the floor is still lacking and brings the team down to just 41.6 percent.

The Rebels had better not assume that South Dakota will be an easy target, based on the onslaught against St. Katherine. In fact, not only will the Coyotes give the visitors a run for their money, they might well score the upset as UNLV continues to have issues finding solid replacements for lost talent.