PHOENIX (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit late in the second half but fell to Saint Mary's 69-67 on a buzzer-beating lay-in in double-overtime Saturday at the Footprint Center in the Jerry Colangelo Classic. 

Dedan Thomas Jr. scored a career-high 24 points for the Runnin' Rebels (4-5), while Luis Rodriguez and Justin Webster each had 16.

The Gaels (6-5) were led by Mitchell Saxen's 23 points and 16 rebounds. 

END OF THE SECOND OVERTIME: The game was tied 67-67 with 36 seconds left. Thomas Jr. missed a short jumper with eight seconds to go and Saint Mary's rebounded. Jordan Ross found Saxen near the rim and he layed the ball in just before the buzzer sounded. UNLV led 67-64 with under a minute to go, but the Gaels scored the final five points of the game.

FIRST OVERTIME: Thomas Jr. scored seven of UNLV's nine points in the first extra period. Saint Mary's had a chance to win it at the end, but missed a long 3-point attempt sending the game to a second overtime.

END OF REGULATION: UNLV trailed by 10 points with five minutes to go in the second half. The Runnin' Rebels came back and Thomas Jr. made a driving layup with 10 seconds remaining, tying the game. UNLV had the ball again with 2.4 seconds to go and Thomas Jr. had a chance to end it, but his halfcourt heave missed, hitting the backboard and the rim. 

STAT OF THE GAME: Saint Mary's outscored UNLV in second-chance points 31-4, collecting 33 offensive rebounds.

NOTES:
- Saint Mary's entered the game at No. 8 in the country in scoring defense and in the top 25 in blocks per game, rebound margin and offensive rebounds per game.
- Both teams struggled offensively in the first half with Saint Mary's shooting 21.2% from the field (7 of 33), including 0 for 8 on 3-pointers, while UNLV managed just 3 of 24 (12.5%), including 0 for 4 on 3-pointers. Both teams finished in the low 30s in field-goal percentage for the game.
- Saint Mary's made just 1 of 19 of its 3-point attempts, while UNLV finished 3 of 14.
- The Gaels attempted 25 more shots on the night than the Runnin' Rebels did (79-54).
- Saint Mary's out-rebounded UNLV 68-33 for the game.
- UNLV recorded just 10 turnovers, while Saint Mary's had 15.
- UNLV outscored Saint Mary's in points off turnovers 19-9.
- The Gaels led in points in the paint (46-22).
- Saint Mary's led 20-14 at the half. UNLV outscored the Gaels 36-30 over the next 20 minutes,.
- Kalib Boone picked up his fourth foul with 8:49 to play and his fifth at 4:23.
- Shane Nowell returned from injury to play in his first game this season, logging just two minutes.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,202 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will return home to the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in a 23-day span to host Hofstra on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. UNLV's last game at home was vs. Akron on Nov. 28, before the venue hosted the National Finals Rodeo.

TICKETS: UNLV men's basketball tickets may be purchased online at UNLVtickets.com, on the phone by calling 702-739-3267 or in person at the TMC Box Office.