Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
86
Winner UT Martin UTM 1-0,0-0 OVC
81
UNLV UNLV 0-1,0-0 Mountain West
Winner
UT Martin UTM
1-0,0-0 OVC
86
Final
81
UNLV UNLV
0-1,0-0 Mountain West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UT Martin UTM 39 47 86
UNLV UNLV 43 38 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Shorthanded Runnin' Rebels Fall To UT Martin In Season Opener

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led UNLV with 18 points in 86-81 loss at the Thomas & Mack Center.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The shorthanded UNLV men's basketball team lost to UT Martin 86-81 at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday night in its regular-season opener.

Three Runnin' Rebels (0-1) scored in double figures, led by Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn's 18 points. Kimani Hamilton had 13 before fouling out, while Al Green added 12. Tyrin Jones had a game-high nine rebounds, and Jacob Bannarbie pulled down eight.

The Skyhawks (1-0) had four players score in double figures, led by Andrija Bukumirovic and Dragos Lungu, each with 23 points. The pair combined to shoot 15 of 21 from the field, with Bukumirovic making 5 of 7 from 3-point range. 

COURT REDEDICATION: UNLV rededicated the court during a pregame ceremony as the Jerry and Lois Tarkanian Court, honoring the legendary Hall of Fame coach and his wife.

SHORTHANDED BECAUSE OF INJURIES: UNLV was without four scholarship players because of injury: Mason Abittan, Myles Che, Emmanuel Stephen, and Issac Williamson.

STATS OF THE GAME: UNLV committed 22 turnovers, leading to 21 UT Martin points. The Skyhawks also led in fastbreak points 19-14.

LEADS ON BOTH SIDES: UNLV led by as many as 10 points in the first half and took a 43-39 lead into the break. UT Martin had its biggest lead of the game, also at 10 points with 4:15 to play after a 12-0 run that spanned almost three minutes.

QUOTABLE: "I just want to apologize to the fan base for that opener, especially on the night of the rededication of the court for the Tarkanians. I just feel sick to my stomach. There were things that we did today that I just did not recognize from our team. We did not practice like that. Twenty-two turnovers, we were doing things with the ball that we have not done for five months. Credit to UT Martin. We let them hang around. We had a couple of chances to bury them, but we made too many mistakes. No one is going to feel sorry for us. We've got to figure it out and in a hurry and find a way to try to bounce back on Saturday." - UNLV head coach Josh Pastner

OTHER NOTES: 
- The game was Josh Pastner's first countable contest (non-exhibition game) as UNLV's head coach.
- UNLV shot 53.6% from the field in the first half, but just 36.4% in the second, finishing the game at 46.0%
- UT Martin shot 43.6% from the field and just 56.3% (27 of 48) on free throws.
- UNLV outrebounded the Skyhawks 39-33.
- UT Martin recorded 12 steals.
- UNLV led in bench scoring 23-14, and points in the paint 32-26.
- UT Martin committed 14 turnovers, which led to 17 UNLV points.
- There were a total of 58 combined fouls called.
- There were four lead changes and six ties throughout the game.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,261 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will continue its season-opening three-game homestand on Saturday, Nov. 8, as it hosts Chattanooga at the Thomas & Mack Center at 6 p.m.

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 Saturday's game start at just $11.


 
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