The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is hoping to do to UNLV tonight what the Thomas & Mack Center is already doing.

Buck the Runnin' Rebels.

The Rainbow Warriors will host UNLV tonight in a rare non-conference rematch. The Rebels beat Hawai'i, 67-61, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 22.

"They out-toughed us over there, especially down the stretch," Hawai'i co-captain Deonte Tatum said. "We have to be aggressive and take the game to them this time."

Since then, the teams have reversed fortunes.

Hawai'i returned from the loss to beat Saint Louis, 82-64, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UNLV has lost three straight since beating the 'Bows. What's more, this will be the third stop in a four-game, 11-day road swing for the Rebels.

They lost at Oklahoma State on Wednesday and then at Oregon State on Saturday. After playing here, they will play at Minnesota on Saturday.

"It's a brutal schedule, but you don't have to talk to us about travel," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said.

The Rebels were forced on the road for two weeks because the National Finals Rodeo is being held in the Thomas & Mack Center.

"It's pretty much something we have to do every year," UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said. "It's not easy, but we feel like it will make us a better team at the end of the year."

In an effort to keep their suitcases light and their spirits up, the Rebels have been returning to Las Vegas after each road game.

"I think it helps us," Kruger said. "It's more comfortable being at home, even if it's just for a night or two."

In any case, the Rebels are hoping to make the 'Bows uncomfortable with their pressure defense. UNLV likes to use three quick guards alongside 6-foot-9 forwards Louis Amundson and Dustin Villepigue.

"Their quickness beat our size at their place," Wallace said. "Now we want our size to beat their quickness here."

Hawai'i has four starters 6-6 and taller. But in the game at UNLV, the 'Bows shot 1 of 17 from 3-point range and committed 19 turnovers.

"They came out with a lot of pressure, and that was something new for us," Hawai'i forward Julian Sensley said. "It was only our second game. But now that we've seen it, I think we'll be ready for it this time."

Sensley went scoreless for the first time in his Hawai'i career at UNLV. "He's too good a player for that to happen again," Kruger said. "We're not counting on it."

What UNLV has been counting on this season is Amundson. He had 22 points and 21 rebounds in the victory over Hawai'i.

"He out-hustled us and got a lot of boards against our zone (defense)," Wallace said. "We just have to make sure we match their intensity this time."

Hawai'i forward/center Ahmet Gueye will likely have to defend Amundson. Gueye had 21 points on 10 of 12 shooting in the loss at UNLV.

"I don't care about my points," he said. "My job (tonight) is to play better defense."

The 'Bows actually played decent defense at UNLV, limiting the Rebels to a 38.2 field-goal percentage. Hawai'i used a two-three zone for most of the second half, but Wallace said he is not sure if he wants to deviate from his usual man-to-man tonight.

"We're at home; we want to establish our game," he said.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.