Rebels Aim for a Holiday Reset After Tough Start in Vegas
Thanksgiving basketball in Las Vegas usually comes with leftovers, but UNLV is hoping Thursday brings something fresher: a reset. After dropping the first two games of the Players Era Men’s Championship, the Rebels meet Rutgers at Michelob ULTRA Arena looking to leave the week with more than just lessons.
UNLV (3-4) opened the event with a tight loss to Maryland before running into eighth-ranked Alabama’s firepower. It was a sharp contrast to how the Rebels entered the week, winning three of their last four and scoring 92 or more in each of those outings behind a fast-paced, balanced attack.
Offensive firepower exists, but execution is the missing link
The numbers still point to what this team can be. Six different Rebels average at least nine points, led by Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn’s 17.6 per game and Issac Williamson’s 15.6. Kimani Hamilton adds 13.4, while Tyrin Jones and Howie Fleming Jr. anchor the glass with more than six rebounds each. Fleming Jr. also leads the team in assists at 3.3.
This all comes under first-year head coach Josh Pastner, who inherited a brand-new roster with one returning player and 13 newcomers, including eight Division I transfers. UNLV is still figuring out its chemistry, but the foundation is there.
Rutgers’ Size and Tempo Present a Final Tournament Test
Rutgers (4-3) brings a physical frontcourt and three double-digit scorers, led by Dylan Grant’s 15.4 points and Emmanuel Ogbole’s 6.7 rebounds. The Scarlet Knights push a halfcourt style that punishes mistakes — something UNLV struggled with during its first two games of the event.
For UNLV, the mission is simple: defend with purpose, clean up the turnovers and rediscover the tempo that powered last week’s wins. A Thanksgiving victory won’t fix everything, but it would give the Rebels a steadier pulse heading into December — and a meaningful step toward building the identity Pastner is chasing.
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