Runnin' Rebels Fall To Tennessee State In Close Game In Henderson

Saturday, December 13

Lee's Family Forum, Henderson, Nevada

6:30 PM PT

University of Nevada Las Vegas

4-6,0-0Mountain West

Tennessee State

6-4,0-0OVC

Team	1	2	F
Tennessee St.	29	34	63
UNLV	33	27	60

Final Book Final Book

Runnin' Rebels Fall To Tennessee State In Close Game In Henderson

12/13/2025 10:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led UNLV with 13 points in 63-60 setback Saturday night.

HENDERSON, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team lost a close game, 63-60, to Tennessee State on Saturday night in the Jack Jones Classic at Lee's Family Forum.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led the Runnin' Rebels (4-6) with 13 points, while Kimani Hamilton had nine rebounds.

The Tigers (6-4) had three players in double figures, led by Aaron Nkrumah's 12 points and eight rebounds, and Travis Harper II's 12 points.

SCORING DROUGHT: After Howie Fleming Jr. made two free throws to give UNLV a 60-58 lead with 3:20, the Runnin' Rebels went scoreless the rest of the way. Tennessee State closed the game on a 5-0 run.

STAT OF THE GAME: Although each team had 13 offensive rebounds, Tennessee State outscored UNLV in second-chance points 16-7.

QUOTABLE: "Credit to Tennessee State. They were the more physical team. We could never pull away. We were up 29-20 in the first half, and I thought we were right there, ready to pull away, but we had a costly turnover, and it got back to a see-saw game. We weren't really good offensively. We missed so many layups, left free throws, and some shots short. We kept missing and missing and couldn't score. We had to clean up our defense, which we have, but then offensively, we just haven't been able to. It's a roller coaster with our team. We can beat anyone on any given night, and we can lose to anybody on any given night. When you hold a team to 63, you've got to win the game. But that's a credit to Tennessee State." - UNLV head coach Josh Pastner

OTHER NOTES:
- Tennessee State shot 50% from the field in the second half (15 of 30), finishing at 46.7% for the game (28 of 60), while UNLV shot 37.3% (19 of 51) for the contest.
- Both teams combined for 5 of 31 on 3-pointers. UNLV was 3 of 15 (20.0%), and Tennessee State was 2 of 16 (12.5%).
- Tennessee State led in total rebounds, 39-36.
- UNLV led 33-29 at the half.
- UNLV led by as many as nine points (29-20 with 4:48 to go in the first half).
- The game had seven lead changes and 10 ties.
- Tennessee State led in points in the paint 40-32, while UNLV led in fast break points 16-8.
- Jacob Bannarbie and Howie Fleming Jr. returned to the lineup after both missing last week's game at Stanford.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,270 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will open Mountain West play on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Thomas & Mack Center against Fresno State at 4 p.m.

TICKETS: Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.