Men's Basketball 11/23/2025 8:52:00 AM

Runnin' Rebels To Play In Players Era Men's Championship This Week

UNLV men's basketball to face Maryland on Monday and No. 11 Alabama on Tuesday; Both games scheduled for 9 p.m. at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (3-2), winner of two straight games, will open play in the Players Era Men's Championship on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip on Monday, November 24, at 9 p.m. vs. Maryland (4-1) at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The following night, the Runnin' Rebels will then match up against No. 11 Alabama, also at 9 p.m. A third game is TBD on either Wednesday, Nov. 26, or Thursday, Nov. 27, depending on the results of the first two days of play.

The Runnin' Rebels' two-game win streak consists of a road victory at Memphis (92-78) on Sunday, Nov. 16, and at home at the Thomas & Mack Center over Saint Joseph's (99-85) on Thursday. UNLV has scored 92 points or more in each of its last four games, winning three of them.

In Thursday's victory, six Runnin' Rebels scored in double figures, led by Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn's 20 points. It was his second game this season with 20+ points, while freshman Tyrin Jones added career highs of 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks, and Jacob Bannarbie also recorded his first double-double with career highs of 12 points and 11 rebounds.

For the season, the Runnin' Rebels are averaging a MW-leading 93.2 points per game and have six players averaging double figures in scoring: Issac Williamson (17.0 ppg), Gibbs-Lawhorn (16.2 ppg), Kimani Hamilton (14.0 ppg), Howie Fleming Jr. (11.2), Naas Cunningham (10.4 ppg), and Jones (10.2 ppg). Jones leads in rebounding with 6.8 rpg, while Fleming Jr. is the assist leader at 3.4 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 279-189 (.596).

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 MARYLAND AND NO. 11 ALABAMA: Maryland (4-1) has wins over Coppin State (83-61), Alcorn State (84-64), Marquette (89-82) on the road, and Mount St. Mary's (95-90, OT). The Terapins have six players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by David Colt's 18.4 ppg. Pharrel Payne is the team's leading rebounder at 6.3 rpg, while Colt is also the team's assist leader at 3.0 apg. Maryland was picked to finish 13th in the Big Ten's preseason media poll. The Terp's 16-man roster is made up of eight upperclassmen. Maryland went 27-9 overall last season, tying for second in the Big Ten at 14-6. The Terapins advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last season, falling to eventual national champion Florida. Head coach Buzz Williams is in his first season leading Maryland, and is in his 19th season overall as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 377-229 (.622).

No. 11 Alabama (3-1) has wins over North Dakota (91-62), then-No. 5 St. John's (103-96) on the road, and No. 8 Illinois (90-86) on the road, with its loss coming to then-No. 2 Purdue (87-80). The Crimson Tide have five players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Labaron Philon Jr.'s 20.5 ppg. Amari Allen is the team's leading rebounder at 8.0 rpg, while Philon Jr. is also the team's assist leader at 5.8 apg. Philon Jr. was selected to the Preseason All-SEC First Team, while Aden Holloway was third team. The Crimson Tide's 14-man roster is made up of six upperclassmen. Alabama went 28-9 overall last season, finishing third in the SEC at 13-5. The Crimson Tide advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight last season, falling to Duke. Head coach Nate Oats is in his seventh season leading Alabama with a 148-64 (.698) record and is in his 11th year overall as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 244-107 (.695).

TICKETS: Tickets to the Players Era Men's Championship may be purchased from the UNLV allotment at this link: UNLVtickets.evenue.net/events/MBP

BROADCAST INFO: Monday's game will be televised on TNT and HBO Max with Spero Dedes, Greg Anthony, and Jared Greenberg calling the action. The radio broadcast may be heard on ESPN Radio Las Vegas 1100 AM and SiriusXM 380 with Matt Neverett, Curtis Terry, and Steve Cofield on the call. Tuesday's contest will be the same, but on truTV and HBO Max. 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