Position breakdown: UNLV vs. Fresno State at 6 p.m. today
Breaking down the UNLV basketball team’s Mountain West tournament quarterfinal against Fresno State at 6 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center:
BACKCOURT
Fresno State’s Marvelle Harris was named by the coaches the Mountain West Player of the Year after averaging 20.9, points, 4.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Fellow guards Cezar Guerrero and Julien Lewis combine to average 16.0 points. But the Rebels, led by Patrick McCaw and Ike Nwamu, are deeper at this position.
Edge: UNLV
FRONTCOURT
UNLV’s Stephen Zimmerman Jr. will be the best post player on the court, but he’s the only one the Rebels can go to. Fresno State will start Karachi Edo and Cullen Russo, who have combined averages of 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds.
Edge: Fresno State
BENCH
The Rebels got everything they could out of their bench in Wednesday’s 108-102 triple-overtime victory over Air Force, but it’s still a lot to ask a team to play two walk-ons. Fresno State isn’t especially deep, either, but it’s difficult to give UNLV the advantage in this category.
Edge: Fresno State
INTANGIBLES
After playing 55 minutes just a day earlier, hard to imagine the Rebels have much left. Expect them to come out and play hard because that’s what they do, but at some point the minutes will catch up.
Edge: Fresno State
BOTTOM LINE
Betting line: Fresno State -3
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65
