UNLV Runnin' Rebels Crushed at Home by New Mexico Lobos

Rebels drop to 5-4 in Mountain West play after lopsided 89-61 loss

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:47pm

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The UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team suffered a brutal 89-61 defeat at home against the New Mexico Lobos on Tuesday night. The loss drops UNLV to 5-4 in Mountain West Conference play and 10-10 overall, dashing their hopes of winning the regular-season title. New Mexico, now 8-2 in conference and 17-4 overall, moved within 0.5 games of first-place San Diego State.

Why it matters

This home loss is a major setback for UNLV, which was looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. The lopsided defeat raises questions about the Rebels' ability to compete with the top teams in the Mountain West and their chances of making a postseason tournament.

The details

UNLV was dominated in nearly every statistical category, shooting just 29.6% in the first half while falling behind 41-22. No Rebel reached double-digit scoring, with freshman Isaac Williamson leading the team with 9 points. The Rebels also lost starting guard Tyrin Jones to an injury less than 2 minutes into the game.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
  • UNLV will play at rival Nevada on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Josh Pastner

Head coach of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team.

Tyrin Jones

Starting guard for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels who left the game with an injury.

Isaac Williamson

Freshman guard who led UNLV with 9 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“Credit to New Mexico. Bottom line, we got our butts kicked. We went 0-2 in this homestand, and that's unacceptable. They had a hit-first mentality, and we had a soft-first mentality. We've got to be better. We have a quick turnaround, in 72 hours we play at Nevada. I told our guys, your toughness will be tested to see how you respond Friday night.”

— Josh Pastner, Head Coach

What’s next

The Rebels will look to bounce back on the road against their arch-rivals, the Nevada Wolf Pack, on Friday night. However, their chances may be hampered if Tyrin Jones is unable to play due to his injury.

The takeaway

This lopsided home loss is a major setback for UNLV, which was hoping to contend for the Mountain West regular-season title. The Rebels' struggles against the conference's top teams and the injury to Tyrin Jones raise serious doubts about their ability to turn things around and make a postseason tournament.