FRESNO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team won its Mountain West opener in thrilling fashion as it defeated Fresno State 81-80 in double overtime at the Save Mart Center Wednesday night. 

It was UNLV's fourth overtime game of the season and first to go to a second extra period.

UNLV (4-6. 1-0 MW) was led by junior forward Donnie Tillman's career-high 28 points, sophomore guard Bryce Hamilton's career highs of 21 points and 14 rebounds for his first double-double, and junior guard Amauri Hardy's 18 points. 

Fresno State (2-5, 0-1 MW) had four players in double figures in scoring, led by Noah Blackwell's 18 points. Nate Grimes also had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

FORCING OVERTIME: UNLV trailed 65-60 in regulation when sophomore guard Marvin Coleman made a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left to bring the Runnin' Rebels within two points. Hamilton then knocked the ball out of Mustafa Lawrence's hands, off his knee and then out of bounds to give UNLV the ball back. Hamilton then drive the lane, spun and kissed a short jumper off the glass and in to tie the game with six seconds left to force the extra period.

SECOND OVERTIME: With UNLV trailing 72-71 in the first overtime, Tillman had the chance to put the Runnin' Rebels ahead but made one of two free throws as the game was knotted at 72.

HUNG ON FOR THE WIN: UNLV went ahead 81-75 in the second overtime, matching its largest lead of the game, before Fresno State scored five poitns in the final 19 seconds.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV outrebounded Fresno State 51-36.

QUOTABLE: "Really proud of our guys, especially with Jonah and Eli out. A lot of guys stepped up throughout the course of the game. Obviously Donnie and Bryce from a scoring standpoint were outstanding. At the same time, there were so many little plays throughout the game that led to the victory. I thought Cheickna (Dembele) and Marvin - guys who hadn't played early in the year much - gave us such valuable minutes late and in overtime. We preach keep working everyday and we are going to keep getting better. I think we have seen that here and it is something we can build upon." - UNLV head coach T.J. Otzelberger.

NOTES: 
- UNLV junior guard Jonah Antonio was out because of injury for the fifth straight game, while senior guard Elijah Mitrou-Long also missed. Mitrou-Long is out 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb, which he suffered earlier in the week during practice.
- The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to Fresno State and improved UNLV's all-time record vs. the Bulldogs to 31-15.
- UNLV improved to 8-13 all-time in MW openers and to 4-8 when opening MW play on the road.
- Fresno State led by as many as 12 points late in the first half.
- UNLV led in points in the paint 30-16 and in second-chance points 21-13. 
- Fresno State's bench outscored UNLV's 31-6.
- There were 13 lead changes and the game was tied 12 times. 
- Junior forward Mbacke Diong fouled out with 4:17 to go in regulation.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,080 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will resume non-conference play in Salt Lake City, Utah, vs. BYU on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. PT. The game will be televised by BYUtv. The Runnin' Rebels are in the midst of three straight road games as the National Finals Rodeo occupies the Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin' Rebels won't return home until Dec. 18 vs. Pacific.