The 2015–16 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Runnin' Rebels were led by fifth-year head coach Dave Rice until he was fired on January 10, 2016. They were then led by interim head coach Todd Simon for the remainder of the season. They played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 18–15, 8–10 in Mountain West play, to finish in a tie for sixth place. They defeated Air Force to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Fresno State.
On March 28, the school announced that Chris Beard had been hired as head coach. However, less than three weeks later, Beard left UNLV to accept the head coaching position at Texas Tech. On April 16, the school hired Marvin Menzies as head coach.
Previous season The 2014–15 Runnin' Rebels finished the season with an overall record of 18–15, and 8–10 in Mountain West play. The Runnin' Rebels defeated Nevada in the first round of the Mountain West tournament, before losing to San Diego State in the quarterfinals.
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Rashad Vaughn 1 G 6'6" 210 Freshman Golden Valley, MN Declared for 2015 NBA draft Christian Wood 5 F 6'11" 220 Sophomore Long Beach, CA Declared for 2015 NBA draft Barry Cheaney 12 G 6'1" 165 RS Junior Corona, CA Walk-on; did not return Jelan Kendrick 22 G 6'6" 210 RS Senior Atlanta, GA Graduated Dantley Walker 30 G 5'11" 170 RS Freshman Panaca, NV Transferred to Chaminade Charles Rushman 33 G 6'3" 185 RS Junior Oconomowoc, WI Transferred to Lindenwood Cody Doolin 45 G 6'3" 180 Senior Austin, TX Graduated
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Ike Nwamu 0 G 6'5" 205 RS Senior Greensboro, NC Graduate transfer from Mercer University.Will be eligible to play immediately since Nwamu graduated from Mercer. Tyrell Bellot-Green 12 F 6'7" Junior Toronto, ON Junior college transfer from Hill College Chris Obekpa 34 F/C 6'10" 236 Senior Makurdi, Nigeria Transferred from St. John's. Under NCAA transfer rules, Obekpa will have to sit out the 2015–16 season. Will have one year of eligibility left.
2015 recruiting class
Roster
November 27, 2015 – Sophomore Goodluck Okonoboh asked for his release and will transfer. February 8, 2016 – Freshman Stephen Zimmerman out indefinitely due to a left knee injury. Returned for the February 27 game against Wyoming.
* Ike Nwamu wore #0 until February 6 when he changed to #34 to honor former Mercer teammate Jibri Bryan who was murdered on February 2.
Schedule
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| Exhibition
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| Mountain West regular season
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:#C10202;"| Mountain West tournament
References