UNLV Basketball Struggles With Inconsistency This Season

First-year coach Josh Pastner cites lack of consistency and injuries as factors behind the team's up-and-down performance.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:39pm

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UNLV's men's basketball team has been inconsistent this season, with blowout losses mixed in with upset wins. Coach Josh Pastner acknowledged the team's struggles, saying the responsibility lies with him and star player Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. Injuries and illnesses to key players like Tyrin Jones and Naas Cunningham have also disrupted the team's development, while the focus on defense over offense has led to an imbalanced performance.

Why it matters

UNLV basketball is a source of pride for the Las Vegas community, and the team's inconsistent play this season has left fans frustrated. The Rebels' struggles also raise questions about the direction of the program under first-year coach Josh Pastner and whether the team can turn things around and compete for a conference title.

The details

UNLV dropped its second straight home game on Tuesday, losing 89-61 to New Mexico. Coach Josh Pastner acknowledged the team's poor performance, saying "Bottom line, we got our butts kicked ... just unacceptable." The Rebels have shown flashes of potential, like their upset win over Utah State, but have also suffered blowout defeats. Junior guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who Pastner says the team heavily relies on, has been inconsistent, with back-to-back 20-point games followed by an 8-point outing against New Mexico. Injuries and illnesses to key players like freshman forward Tyrin Jones and freshman forward Naas Cunningham have also disrupted the team's development. Pastner said the team's focus on defense over offense has led to an imbalanced performance, with UNLV ranked last in the Mountain West in points allowed per game but sixth in scoring.

  • On Tuesday, UNLV lost 89-61 to New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack Center.
  • A week ago, UNLV upset Utah State as 16-point underdogs.

The players

Josh Pastner

UNLV's first-year head coach who acknowledged the team's struggles and said the responsibility lies with him.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

UNLV's junior guard who Pastner says the team heavily relies on, but has been inconsistent in his play.

Tyrin Jones

UNLV freshman forward who has become a fan favorite for his energy as a paint defender and interior offense generator, but suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to leave Tuesday's game.

Naas Cunningham

UNLV freshman forward who made his first appearance since January 9th against New Mexico after being sidelined by the flu.

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What they’re saying

“Bottom line, we got our butts kicked ... just unacceptable.”

— Josh Pastner, Head Coach (reviewjournal.com)

“We're not consistent. That's pretty much all it is.”

— Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Junior Guard (reviewjournal.com)

What’s next

Pastner and the Rebels will look to regroup and find more consistency as they continue their Mountain West conference schedule.

The takeaway

UNLV's inconsistent play this season highlights the challenges of rebuilding a program, with injuries, illnesses, and a focus on defense over offense contributing to the team's up-and-down results. As first-year coach Josh Pastner works to establish his system, the Rebels will need to find more consistency from their key players in order to compete for a conference title.