Men's Basketball 11/19/2025 12:31:00 PM

Runnin' Rebels Return Home To Host Saint Joseph's Thursday Night

UNLV men's basketball is averaging 91.8 ppg and coming off 92-78 win Sunday at Memphis on national television; Hawks visit Thomas & Mack Center for 7 p.m. game.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - After defeating Memphis (92-78) on the road on national television in its first road game of the season on Sunday, the UNLV men's basketball team will return to the Thomas & Mack Center to host Saint Joseph's on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.

Howie Fleming Jr. and Issac Williamson each scored 25 points against the Tigers, with Fleming Jr. adding 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. The contest marked just the second game of Williamson's college career and his first start.

The Runnin' Rebels (2-2), who are averaging 91.8 points per game, have five players averaging double figures in scoring: Williamson (18.0 ppg), Kimani Hamilton (15.3 ppg), Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (15.3 ppg), Naas Cunningham (12.3 ppg), and Fleming Jr. (11.0 ppg). Tyrin Jones leads in rebounding with 6.0 rpg, while Gibbs-Lawhorn and Hamilton are tied for the assist lead each at 3.0 apg.

The Runnin' Rebels are in their first year under head coach Josh Pastner. Although new to UNLV, he is in his 15th year as a collegiate head coach, having previously led Memphis and Georgia Tech for seven seasons each. He holds a career record of 278-189 (.595).

UNLV's roster has only one returning player, Jacob Bannarbie, and has welcomed 13 new faces. The newcomers include eight Division I transfers, a former international professional, a junior college transfer, and three freshmen.

MORE ABOUT THE ROSTER: This season's UNLV squad returned just one player from 2024-25: redshirt sophomore forward Jacob Bannarbie. The 2025-26 roster added 13 newcomers - eight Division I transfers, a former international professional, a junior college transfer, and three freshmen. The team features four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen, with a position breakdown of seven guards, six forwards, and a center. Last season, Bannarbie appeared in 19 games (three starts), averaging 1.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes, and shooting 52.9% from the field on 17 attempts.

ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH'S: The Hawks (2-2) opened the season with home wins over Lafayette (85-76) and Drexel (76-65) before losing at Virginia Tech (94-59) last Wednesday at Penn (83-74) on Monday night. Saint Joseph's has five players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Deuce Jones II's 17.3 ppg. Dasear Haskins, Derek Simpson, and Austin Williford all lead in rebounding at 5.8 rpg, and Anthony Finkley is the team's assist leader at 2.8 apg. The Hawks were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, with Jones II landing on the Preseason All-Conference First Team and Justice Ajogbor named to the Preseason All-Defensive Team. Saint Joseph's 16-man roster is made up of just four upperclassmen. The Hawks went 22-13 overall last season, finishing tied for fifth in the A-10 at 11-7. They lost in the first round of the NIT to UAB to end their 2024-25 campaign. Head coach Steve Donahue is in his first season leading Saint Joseph's. He had previously been on staff as the associate head coach. This is his 24th season as a collegiate head coach, having made stops at Cornell, Boston College, and Penn.

TICKETS: Tickets may be purchased online at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), or in person at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office. Season tickets are on sale now. Single-game tickets for Thursday's game start at just $11.

BROADCAST INFO: Thursday's game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network with Matt Neverett and Curtis Terry calling the action. The radio broadcast may be heard on ESPN Radio Las Vegas 1100 AM with Tim Neverett and Steve Cofield on the call. All streaming links and live stats are available at UNLVRebels.com and through the UNLV Rebels App.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Jacob Bannarbie: F; 6' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#3 Howie Fleming Jr.: G; 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior

#12 Issac Williamson: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#6 Tyrin Jones: F; 6' 9"; Freshman

#24 Naas Cunningham: F; 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Kimani Hamilton: F; 6' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Jacob Bannarbie
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#0 Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#3 Howie Fleming Jr.
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#12 Issac Williamson
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#6 Tyrin Jones
: 6' 9"; Freshman
: F

#24 Naas Cunningham
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#2 Kimani Hamilton
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F