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GAME NOTES: The 24th-ranked UNLV Runnin' Rebels hit the road tonight as part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge, when they take on the Illinois State Redbirds in Normal.

For the second straight season the Rebels are off to a 6-0 start as they prepare for their first true road game of the 2010-11 campaign tonight. Most recently the team took part in the annual 76 Classic in Anaheim, California where they swept through the field with victories against Tulsa, Murray State and Virginia Tech to remain undefeated.

As for the Redbirds, they have just a single blemish on their record thus far, losing to Arkansas-Little Rock by a score of 63-54 back on November 21st. Since that setback, Illinois State has rattled off three straight wins, the most recent of those being a 60-47 romp over Jacksonville State on Sunday at home in the final game of the 2010 Global Sports Roundball Classic.

As far as the all-time series between the schools is concerned, UNLV has taken two of the previous three meetings. The Rebels, who have a mark of 15-7 all- time against currently member schools of the MVC, captured a 94-92 final in the most recent meeting with ISU back in 1978.

Chace Stanback's 17 points led four players in double figures for the Rebels as they dismantled Virginia Tech over the weekend. Quintrell Thomas and Tre'Von Willis accounted for 14 points apiece and Anthony Marshall 10 as the squad shot 53.4 percent from the field and forced 18 turnovers in order to combat a mere 4-of-17 shooting beyond the arc and 5-of-11 at the free-throw line. Accuracy at the foul line has been an issue thus far for the Rebels, as they have made good on just 64.9 percent of their attempts over six games. However, the squad has more than made up for that deficiency with an incredible 55.1 percent from the floor overall, allowing UNLV to outscore the competition by almost 20 ppg. Stanback leads the team in scoring with 17.2 ppg and has made good on a sizzling 62.9 percent from the floor. Not to be ignored is Oscar Bellfield (11.5 ppg) who has converted not only 50 percent from the field but also 10-of-22 behind the three-point line. Once Willis (8.5 ppg) warms up the Rebels will be even tougher to take down.

From a defensive standpoint, the Redbirds put the clamps on Jacksonville State, allowing the visitors to shoot just 37.8 percent from the field and 2- of-13 behind the three-point line. Justin Clark tallied 11 points to pace Illinois State in the scoring department, followed by Alex Rubin and Blake Mishler with 10 points apiece as well. Through six games the Redbirds have enjoyed holding the opposition to just 60.0 ppg, but some of that has to do with those teams hurting themselves at the free-throw line where they have shot a collective 58.4 percent thus far. Foes have also turned the ball over an average of 14 times per game, keeping them from getting off enough field goal attempts. Although they didn't score in double figures the last time out, Jackie Carmichael and Austin Hill are the two players averaging double digits right now with averages of 11.8 and 10.5 ppg, respectively. Tony Lewis (8.5 ppg) is the one who gives the squad a lift in the paint with his 8.2 rpg.

Both of these teams have had some so-called cupcakes on the schedule thus far, but UNLV has brought back a number of players from a successful squad a year ago, so it only makes sense that the Rebels be given the nod in this meeting.