Men's Basketball 2/6/2026 11:00:00 AM

Runnin' Rebels Back Home Saturday

Grand Canyon visits for 1:30 p.m. game; Nationally televised on FOX.

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team will return home to the Thomas & Mack Center to host Grand Canyon on Saturday, Feb. 7. The 1:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally on FOX.

After winning three straight games (vs. Boise State in overtime, at San Jose State, and at Utah State), the Runnin' Rebels (10-12, 5-6) have now lost four in a row (vs. San Diego State, vs. New Mexico, at UNR, and at Fresno State). Saturday's game marks the first meeting of the season between the Runnin' Rebels and Antelopes, and also the first as Mountain West foes.

The Runnin' Rebels are averaging 78.7 points per game and have five players averaging 9.9 points per game or more: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (18.0 ppg, 3rd in MW), Kimani Hamilton (11.8 ppg), Tyrin Jones (10.6 ppg), Issac Williamson (10.1 ppg), and Howie Fleming Jr. (9.9 ppg). Jones hurt his shoulder in the first two minutes of the Jan. 27 game vs. New Mexico and did not return. He has missed the last two games (at UNR and at Fresno State). Fleming Jr. leads the team in rebounds at 5.9 rpg (6th in MW) and assists at 3.2 apg. Gibbs-Lawhorn is the team's steals leader at 1.6 spg (6th in MW), while Jones leads in blocks at 1.9 bpg (2nd in MW, 38th nationally).

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 286-199 (.590).

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, which has had to deal with a rash of injuries, 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 GRAND CANYON: The Antelopes (15-7, 8-3) have won two in a row and five of their last six, with their only loss during that span coming at UNR in overtime. GCU comes to Las Vegas off home victories against Boise State (86-69 on Jan. 30) and vs. Air Force (81-57 on Tuesday). The Antelopes are led in scoring by Jaden Henley, who is a UNLV transfer, with 17.1 ppg (6th in MW), and Makaih Williams at 13.0 ppg. Nana Owusu-Anane leads the team in rebounding with 8.5 rpg (3rd in MW), while Henley is second at 5.5 rpg. Henley also leads in steals at 1.6 spg (6th in MW), while Owusu-Anane is the blocks leader at 1.0 bpg (5th in MW). GCU ranks 41st in the country in scoring defense (67.7) and field goal percentage defense (40.7). The Antelopes are 3-3 in true road games this season. Grand Canyon was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West's preseason poll, with Brian Moore Jr. named the league's Preseason Newcomer of the Year and to the Preseason All-MW team. Henley also earned preseason all-league honors. The Antelopes' 15-man roster is made up of eight upperclassmen. Grand Canyon went 26-8 overall last season, finishing second in the Western Athletic Conference at 13-3. It won the WAC Tournament to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to Maryland in the first round. Head coach Bryce Drew is in his sixth season at the school with a record of 135-47 (.742)and is in his 14th season overall as a collegiate head coach with a career record of 299-155 (.659).

PROMOTIONS: All fans are encouraged to wear black on Saturday, which will also be Kids Day at the Thomas & Mack Center. 500 glow-in-the-dark black tank tops will be given away exclusively to UNLV students. At halftime, a fan will have a chance to putt for a Toyota Tacoma, courtesy of Findlay Toyota.

TICKETS: Tickets to UNLV men's basketball home games may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.

BROADCAST INFO: Saturday's game will be televised nationally on FOX with Jeff Levering and Jordan Taylor calling the action. The radio broadcast may be heard on ESPN Radio 1100 AM/SiriusXM 391 with Matt Neverett, Curtis Terry, and Steve Cofield on the call. 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

#10 Jaden Henley: G; 6' 7"; Junior

#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

#2 Kimani Hamilton: F; 6' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Jacob Bannarbie
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#10 Jaden Henley
: 6' 7"; Junior
: G

#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

#2 Kimani Hamilton
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F