Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
86
Winner UNLV UNLV 10-8,5-2 Mountain West
76
Utah St. USU 15-3,6-2 Mountain West
Winner
UNLV UNLV
10-8,5-2 Mountain West
86
Final
76
Utah St. USU
15-3,6-2 Mountain West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNLV UNLV 38 48 86
Utah St. USU 38 38 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Runnin' Rebels Complete Second-Half Comeback To Upset Utah State 86-76 In Logan

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 21 points, and Tyrin Jones had 20 in UNLV's third straight win.

LOGAN, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team (10-8, 5-2) came back from 14 points down in the second half to upset Utah State 76-66 at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday night.

It was the Runnin' Rebels' third straight win and sixth in their last eight games.

Five UNLV players scored in double figures, led by Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn's 21 points and Tyrin Jones' career high of 20. 

The Aggies (15-3, 6-2) also had five players score in double figures, led by Mason Falslev's 21 points and six rebounds.

STREAK SNAPPED: It marked UNLV's first win at Utah State since 2016. The Runnin' Rebels had lost seven in a row in Logan and eight of its previous nine on the road against the Aggies. UNLV entered the game having lost eight of its last nine overall to Utah State.

SECOND-HALF COMEBACK: Tied 38-38 at halftime, Utah State opened the second half with a 20-6 run to take a 58-44 lead with 12:44 to go. UNLV fought back, eventually taking a 66-65 lead with 5:53 to play. The Runnin' Rebels closed the game on a 13-3 run over the final 2:52 as they made six of eight field goals during that stretch.

STATS OF THE GAME: UNLV shot 57.1% from the field in the second half (16 of 28), made 7 of 14 3-pointers for the game (50%) and connected on 21 of 25 free throws for the game (84.0%).

NO LONGER UNDEFEATED AT HOME: Utah State entered the game with a 15-2 overall record, including 7-0 at home.

QUOTABLE: "Utah State is a really good basketball team and they are very well coached. I have been at many places - in the ACC, in the real Pac-10 back in the day, and other conferences - and this is as good of a home environment as there is in the country. So to win on the road here is almost impossible, and for us to be able to pull that off after being down 9-0 to start the game, and down 14 in the second half, was a credit to our grit and toughness." - UNLV head coach Josh Pastner

OTHER NOTES: 
- With the win, UNLV improved its record in true road games this season to 4-2.
- UNLV committed 12 turnovers, but went the final 13 minutes of the game without committing one.
- There were a total of seven lead changes and 10 ties throughout the game (three lead changes and six ties in the first half).
- UNLV found itself down 9-0 to start the game. Later, it used a 10-1 run to take its first lead of the game at 33-30 with 4:05 until halftime.
- UNLV was in foul trouble early with Gibbs-Lawhorn, Kimani Hamilton and Howie Fleming Jr. each with three fouls at halftime. Emmanuel Stephen, Gibbs-Lawhorn, and Fleming Jr. all ended the game with four fouls, while Hamilton fouled out of the contest with 7:28 remaining.
- UNLV shot 50% from the field for the game (29 of 58), improving its record to 5-1 when shooting 50% or better.
- UNLV held Utah State to less than 30% shooting from 3-point range (7 of 24, 29.2%). 
- Utah State shot 44.8% from the field (26 of 58), but made just 54.8% of its free throws (17 of 31).
- UNLV made 14 of 16 free throws in the second half (87.5%).
- UNLV outrebounded Utah State, 40-31, improving its record to 7-1 when recording more rebounds in a game than its opponent. Each team had 13 offensive rebounds.
- UNLV's Walter Brown tied his career high with 10 points, while Stephen also scored 10.
- Gibbs-Lawhorn was 8 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.
- Jones made 10 of 12 free throws.
- Utah State's Drake Allen had a game-high nine assists with only one turnover and a game-high four steals.
- UNLV has made at least one 3-pointer in a NCAA-record 1,278 straight games.

NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will return home to host San Diego State on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. 

TICKETS & PROMOS: Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), or in person at the TMC Box Office. All fans will receive free T-shirts, courtesy of Boyd Gaming. 


 
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