For the first time since 1979, the Cats will play in the NIT.

After a 20-13 season, UK has been selected to face Nevada-Las Vegas in the first round of the NIT after not being selected for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 when the Cats were on NCAA probation.

The NIT field was announced Sunday night after the NCAA Tournament field was revealed and the teams remaining to choose from were known.

The Cats will host UNLV on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN and will be played at Memorial Coliseum.Rupp Arena is unavailable due to a scheduling conflict with the Kentucky state boys’ high school basketball tournament. The Cats haven’t played at Memorial Coliseum since March 8, 1976.

UNLV finished its year with a 21-10, losing to San Diego State in the Moutain West Conference Tournament’s quarterfinal round. The Rebels’ leading scorer, senior guard Wink Adams, earned second-team All-MWC honors this season, averaging 14.3 points per game to lead his team.

Cats fans will notice a familiar face on the UNLV bench: former UK guard Derrick Jasper. Jasper spent two years in Lexington before transferring to move closer to his Paso Robles, Calif., home. He chose to transfer to UNLV.

Because of NCAA transfer rules, Jasper is sitting out the 2008-09 season, so he will be unavailable for play against the Cats. Jasper will have two years of eligibility left when the 2009-10 season begins in October.

The Cats and the Rebels faced one common opponent this season — Louisville. On Dec. 31, UNLV rode a late Oscar Bellfield layup to a 56-55 win in Louisville. The Cards’ very next game was against UK, and UofL junior Edgar Sosa hit a dramatic 25-footer to seal a 74-71 win over the Cats on Jan. 4.

Tickets for UK’s first-round NIT game are available at www.ticketmaster.com for $33 each, regardless of age. Eligible students may purchase student tickets for $5 at the Joe Craft Center’s ticket office, starting on Monday at 8 a.m. All tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Follow this link for an NIT bracket with first-round times and TV coverage.

Stay tuned to 50.63.25.108 for NIT coverage.

RELATED LINK: Replay the NIT selection show live blog