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LAS VEGAS – Gardner-Webb University men's basketball is set to open the program's 52^nd season with a marquee nonconference showdown at UNLV on Wednesday night, November 10. Tipoff is slated for 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
The cross-country trip west will be Gardner-Webb's first tilt against a Mountain West Conference opponent since it traveled to UNLV in 2004 for the first and only prior matchup between the two teams all-time.
 
Wednesday's contest will be streamed digitally on the Mountain West Network with Ben Wilson and Tony Cordasco on the call. Gardner-Webb's own Phil Constantino will also provide audio play-by-play coverage on the Runnin' Bulldogs Sports Network (RBSN) and locally for WGNC 101.1 FM & 1450 AM.
 
Coming off an 11-15 campaign a season ago, Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft enters his ninth season at the helm for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who this season return an experienced key core of nine veterans to help lead a cast of seven newcomers as the 'Dogs take aim at their seventh winning season under Craft since taking over the program's reins in 2013.
 
Led by a veteran frontcourt of junior Kareem Reid and senior Ludovic Dufeal, paired with the athleticism of Lance Terry, D'Maurian Williams, Jordan Sears and Anthony Selden in the backcourt, Gardner-Webb will look to rely on its experienced core on Wednesday night as the Runnin' Bulldogs enter UNLV's 18,000-seat arena for the first of three challenging nonconference road matchups to begin the year.
 
UNLV, who begins its first season under the leadership of head coach Kevin Kruger, features an entirely new look this year with nine transfers – eight coming from the Division I level, including four from Big 12 programs. Ten of the Runnin' Rebels' 13 scholarship players have yet to play in a game in the Scarlet and Gray.
 
The Runnin' Rebels went 12-15 overall and finished seventh in the Mountain West at 8-10. Former head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who was at UNLV for two seasons, then left in March for the same position at Iowa State.
 
For the first time since the 2019-2020 season, UNLV is set to allow the return of fans – restricted to those who are fully vaccinated – inside the Thomas & Mack Center beginning with Wednesday night's season opener. UNLV Athletics also announced on Tuesday that all fans in attendance must first show proof of vaccination in order to be granted entry. Additional details regarding entry are below, while full details on UNLV's fan policy can be found here.

FROM UNLV ATHLETICS REGARDING FAN ENTRY:

UNLV Athletics announced Nov. 2 that it will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for entry to its basketball games at the Thomas & Mack Center, allowing attendance without a mask. In accordance with the Emergency Directive from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak regarding large events, medical or religious exemptions and partial vaccinations will not be accepted.

Since the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just recently approved vaccinations for children under the age of 12, attendees below that age threshold will be allowed to attend games without proof of vaccinations until December 1, 2021, but will need to wear a mask. Children ages 2-and-under do not have to wear a mask. After the grace period, children ages 5-11 will be required to be fully vaccinated effective Dec 1, 2021 to attend basketball games at the Thomas & Mack. The requirement for vaccinating children under 12 follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. UNLV will continue to monitor state, county and local guidelines, and will adjust policies as needed.

About the Verification Process Using Fobi's CheckVax™:

• Attendees will either scan the provided QR code using the camera app on their phone or visit UNLVRebels.com/checkvax.

• Fans will enter their name, cell number, e-mail and upload an image of a vaccination card or other proof of vaccination, a government-issued ID and a photo (may be taken with a phone camera)

• Once the submission is reviewed and approved, attendees will be sent a SMS text and e-mail confirmation that will include a link to their Web Pass.

• At the game, attendees will click the Web Pass link in their e-mail or text. This will be the quickest and most direct way to access the Web Pass. This will bring up an image of their photo and a flashing green check mark.

• Attendees may also download the verification to their Apple or Google Wallet. To access the web pass from the wallet, open the Wallet App (can't be done if screen is locked) and open the Check Vax Card. From there, Apple users can click the three buttons in the top right corner, and then click Verification Webpage to access your Web Pass. Google users will need to bring up the Check Vax Card in their wallet and hit the details button to access the Web Pass. 

• Fans who complete the verification process prior to arriving at the Thomas & Mack Center will have the most expedited entry into games.

• There also will be a manual proof-of-vaccination check line that will allow for fans to show a vaccination card or record along with a photo ID.

• Children age 12 and older may use school cards, passports and other government-issued photo identification for the verification process.

• If someone doesn't have access to a mobile phone, one member of the family may complete the CheckVax™ registration for members that do not have access to a mobile device. To do this, complete the registration process for each person on the same mobile device. Each individual CheckVax™ pass and link will then be available on a single phone.