UNLV is still playing in March because it can still score in bunches and it just found enough stops to finish. The Runnin’ Rebels held off UC Irvine 75-72 on Tuesday night, March 17, 2026, at Bren Events Center to move on in the NIT.
Five Rebels hit double figures, and UNLV shot 53.7% from the field and 45.8% from 3-point range to steal one in a true road environment.
A 19-5 punch, then hang on tight
UNLV came out throwing haymakers. The Rebels ripped off a 19-4 run to build a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes, stretching it to as many as 18 before halftime and taking a 37-24 edge into the break.
That first-half defense set the tone, too. UC Irvine shot 8-for-33 in the first half and went 0-for-5 from 3, giving UNLV room to play fast and free.
The Anteaters woke up, and the margin vanished
UC Irvine flipped the game after the break, shooting 17-for-29 in the second half and turning the free-throw line into a weapon. The Anteaters got within 53-50 with 10:40 left, and the building finally sounded like March.
UNLV answered with timely buckets, pushing the lead back to 73-64 with under 3 minutes left, but it never felt safe. UC Irvine closed again, trimming it to 73-72 on Jurian Dixon free throws with 3 seconds remaining before Kimani Hamilton iced it with two at the line.
Hamilton set the edge, Jones protected the rim
Hamilton led UNLV with 14 points, four steals and two blocks, then calmly knocked down the final two free throws. Tyrin Jones delivered 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, giving the Rebels a back-line presence when UC Irvine started living in the paint.
Issac Williamson buried four 3s and scored 13, while Howie Fleming Jr. had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 12, all in the first half, when UNLV built its cushion.
The messy math that still adds up
UNLV did plenty to let UC Irvine back in it, committing 20 turnovers while the Anteaters finished with 15 steals. UC Irvine also went to the line 25 times and outscored UNLV by 13 at the stripe.
But the Rebels’ shot-making carried the night. UNLV hit 11 3s, posted 17 assists on 29 made field goals and got 28 bench points, just enough to survive the late chaos.
Up next
UNLV advances to the NIT second round and will play at Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, March 21 or Sunday, March 22. The game time is TBA.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
