Rebels heading to Colorado State in search of Rice’s first win at Moby Arena

By Taylor Bern

Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 | 2 a.m.

You might think watching an upcoming opponent struggle would be a pleasant thing to see, but you didn’t watch Wednesday night’s Colorado State loss with the UNLV coaching staff.

The Rebels (13-9, 4-5) travel to Fort Collins, Colo., on Saturday for their lone meeting with the Rams (19-4, 6-4) this season. The game tips off at 1 p.m. Las Vegas time and will air on CBS Sports Network.

After losing to Wyoming at home earlier this season, the Rams went to Laramie on Wednesday looking for revenge in a game that could have made the teams even in the standings. What Colorado State found was its worst offensive performance of the season, shooting 3-of-25 beyond the arc and scoring a season-low 48 in an 11-point loss.

“It’s concerning to me because it’s similar to last year,” UNLV coach Dave Rice said. “… That’s very fresh in my mind. It’s not a good thing that they didn’t play well.”

Last season’s Colorado State team wasn’t as good, finishing 16-16, but the game Rice was referring to was the Rams’ nine-point loss at San Diego State. It was their third straight loss and second straight by nine on the road.

When the Rams and Rebels tipped off, though, Colorado State proceeded to play one of its best games of the season while UNLV put up arguably its worst effort of the year. This time around the Rebels are mindful of the type of performance Colorado State might put on after a disappointing loss, and they know they’re going to have to match the Rams’ energy.

Rice is 0-3 in Moby Arena, the only road trip in the Mountain West that he hasn’t returned from with a victory. Checking that one off the list would be a lot easier if Colorado State doubled its shooting efforts from the Wyoming game, but short of that the Rebels would like to lean on sophomore forward Christian Wood.

Colorado State senior forward J.J. Avila will be physical with Wood but he probably won’t be able to stay in front of him if Wood is moving with purpose towards the basket. Ever since the loss at San Diego State Wood has been seemingly more engaged, and outside of turnovers his production has been solid.

“It’s still a work in progress but Chris has made huge strides,” Rice said. “He wants more, I want more, our staff wants more, fans want more. … It’s all about his effort because we all see how talented he is.”

Wood’s frontcourt partner Goodluck Okonoboh is expected to start and be fine after a week away from games to give some extra rest to the plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Rice said it’s gotten to the point that he doesn’t ask Okonoboh how his foot is feeling, but it’s still something that could become an issue down the road.

Defensively, UNLV’s biggest concerns are familiar faces in Avila and senior guard Daniel Bejarano as well as 6-foot-8 senior Stanton Kidd, a transfer from North Carolina Central who’s been the team’s most efficient starter. Colorado State has always rebounded well but that trio had helped make this one of the better offensive teams in recent years in Fort Collins.

That’s why the Wyoming game sticks out so much to UNLV’s coaches. Those offensive woes are unlikely to happen, at least to that degree, two games in a row, so unlike last year the Rebels must show up from the start of the game ready to finally win at Moby Arena.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.