HOUSTON (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (2-0) improved to 11-3 in true road games since the beginning of 2023 after downing Sam Houston (0-2), 38-21, late Friday night before an announced crowd of 5,837 fans at Shell Energy Stadium.
 
In the first-ever meeting with the Bearkats and playing in a pro soccer stadium for the second straight season, the Rebels led 24-7 at halftime and did not punt until the middle of the third quarter. Aamaris Brown had a monster game on defense, returning an interception 52 yards for a touchdown to go with a pair of sacks and a third tackle-for-loss. Jaden Bradley was impressive in the air, posting his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game (six for 125), including a 43-yard touchdown in the game's first drive. DeAngelo Irvin Jr. caught the Rebels' other touchdown pass to notch the first of his career to help build the early lead.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea completed his first six pass attempts and finished 19 of 23 for 249 yards and two scores. He also rushed six times for 23 yards, including a nifty 13-yard touchdown spurt in the fourth quarter.  
 
STAT OF THE GAME:
After Sam Houston scored on its opening drive of the game, the Rebel defense blanked the Kats until the fourth quarter with the help of an interception and four sacks and holding them to 1-12 on third down. Sam Houston did score two long second-half touchdowns – both on fourth-and-one.
 
QUOTABLE:
"Here's the issue. I'm so pleased, because I think we're really coming together. We took a huge step from last week and I think that's a big deal for us. But as we did last week, when we're good, on both sides of the ball, we're really good, and then we have some errors. We're just missing that focus and that attention to detail for four quarters. There are so many positive plays to build on if we can just focus on eliminating some of the negatives."
-UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen
 
NOTABLE:
-This marked the first time in UNLV history that it played two games in August and it improved to 7-6 in the summer month
-The Rebels improved to 15-15 all-time in games played on Friday
-The Bearkats are scheduled to return this game in Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 2033
-A program-record 18 current Rebels hail from the Lone Star State
-UNLV improved to 10-4 all-time vs. teams that currently make up Conference USA
-Former Rebels Jackson Woodard (Texans), Johnathan Baldwin (Packers), Kylin James and Jalen Baldwin were all on the sidelines for the game
-The Rebels won a game in the state of Texas for the third straight year (2024 at Houston and 2023 at UTEP)
-UNLV improved to 10-3 in non-conference play since the start of 2023 after having just six such wins from 2018-22 (6-10)
-Jai'Den Thomas posted his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, giving him 23 in his career, which ranks seventh in school history. The junior finished with 65 yards on just nine carries.
 
UP NEXT: The Rebels return home to host UCLA of the Big Ten Conference on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The game will be shown on CBS Sports Network. Tickets are available at UNLVTickets.com.