UNLV Men's Basketball Season Ends in NIT Loss to Tulsa

Josh Pastner's first year as head coach concludes with 18-17 record

Mar. 23, 2026 at 2:06am

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The UNLV men's basketball team's season came to an end on Sunday with a 77-66 loss to top-seeded Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament. Despite a strong performance from junior point guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who scored 29 points, the shorthanded Rebels were outmatched physically and struggled on the boards against the Golden Hurricane.

Why it matters

This loss marks the end of Josh Pastner's first season as UNLV's head coach, a year that showed some promise but also inconsistency and injuries. With Mountain West realignment and the transfer portal on the horizon, Pastner will have an opportunity to reshape the Rebels' roster and try to take control of the conference in year two.

The details

UNLV was led by Gibbs-Lawhorn's 29 points, while freshmen Tyrin Jones and Isaac Williams added 18 and 10 points respectively. However, the Rebels were dominated on the boards, getting outrebounded 54-25, including 23-8 on the offensive glass. UNLV also struggled shooting the ball, making just 23% of their three-point attempts.

  • The Rebels' season came to an end on Sunday, March 23, 2026 with the loss to Tulsa.
  • UNLV finished the 2025-26 campaign with an 18-17 record.

The players

Josh Pastner

The head coach of the UNLV men's basketball team, in his first season with the program.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

A junior point guard and first-team All-Mountain West selection who led UNLV with 29 points in the loss to Tulsa.

Tyrin Jones

A freshman who contributed 18 points for the Rebels in the season-ending defeat.

Isaac Williams

A freshman who scored 10 points for UNLV in the NIT loss to Tulsa.

Kimani Hamilton

A senior forward who led the Rebels with 4 steals in the game.

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What’s next

UNLV now looks ahead to next season, with Mountain West realignment and the transfer portal creating the potential for a wide-open conference that Pastner will try to take control of in his second year as head coach.

The takeaway

Pastner's first season at UNLV showed promise but also inconsistency, as the Rebels dealt with injuries and finished 18-17. With an offseason of roster changes ahead, Pastner will have the opportunity to reshape the team and try to position UNLV as a contender in the Mountain West in 2026-27.