Fresno, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (6-2/3-1) saw a 10-point halftime lead evaporate after three turnovers in the third quarter as Fresno State (7-1/3-1) rallied to snap the Rebels' five game win streak, 31-24, in front of an announced crowd of 41,031 at Valley Children's Stadium late Saturday night.
 
The Rebels came in at plus-nine in turnovers on the season and had not turned the ball over more than twice all year and only two times total in the previous four games. But a fumble on a punt-return gone wrong, an interception and then another fumble in a matter of just 11 minutes derailed UNLV's efforts to improve to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1994 in the Big West.
 
After Fresno State took a 31-17 lead, UNLV responded with a touchdown drive of its own to draw to within one score and then got an interception to move into position to tie the game but was turned away on two different drives after earning a first-and-goal. The fourth and final turnover by UNLV was an interception at the Bulldog eight-yard line with three seconds remaining.
 
The Rebels dominated play in the first half, leading in total yards 237-108 at the break after converting seven-of-11 third-down attempts and holding the hosts to just two-of-six.
 
UNLV freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava suffered his first defeat as a college starter after throwing for 268 yards on 21-of-35 passing. The Rebels were led defensively by DB Cameron Oliver who turned in a game-high dozen tackles, including two TFL, to go with an interception and a quarterback sack.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Wide receiver Ricky White stood tall for the Scarlet & Gray, scoring two touchdowns as part of a seven-catch, 152-yard night. It was the junior's third 100-yard game of the season, his fourth as a Rebel and fifth of his career (one at Michigan State).
 
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV came in having allowed just one score off a turnover all season but saw Fresno State score a touchdown off a fumbled punt return, a field goal off an interception and another TD off a controversial fumble to flip the game in the third quarter.
 
QUOTABLE:
"We battled just enough to go have an opportunity to win it and we came up short. It's frustrating, obviously. Our team's got to continue to learn from what we didn't do well. Nobody feels sorry for us. We've got to get back to work. There will be a game in six-and-a-half short days, so we'll make corrections and do everything we can to get our team back in the winner's circle."
-UNLV Head Coach Barry Odom
 
REBEL NOTES:
-UNLV was appearing on a Fox channel (FS1) for the first time since the 2020 season
-Fresno State won its sixth straight meeting with the Rebels
-UNLV held the Bulldogs to just 56 net yards rushing on the night
-Safety Jaxen Turner grabbed his team-leading fourth interception of the season in the second quarter to set up a UNLV score
-Jose Pizano's 30-yard field goal in the second quarter gave him his nation-leading 19th of the season in 20 attempts
-Jai'Den Thomas' four-yard touchdown run late in the first half was his nation-leading eighth score on the ground this season by a freshman and tied quarterback Armani Rogers for the most in school history by a freshman (2017).
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV stays on the road for a meeting at New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 3 pm PT and the game will be streamed on Mountain West Network.