The UNLV men’s basketball team will honor its seniors during the regular-season home finale against Mountain West leader Utah State on Tuesday, March 3. The game is set for 8 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV comes into the matchup with a record of 15-14 overall and 10-8 in conference play. The team recently secured an 85-83 overtime victory over Nevada, highlighted by Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn’s career-high 42 points. Gibbs-Lawhorn hit a game-tying three-pointer with just over half a minute left in regulation, and Tyrin Jones scored the winning basket in overtime.
Gibbs-Lawhorn was named Old Trapper Mountain West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season. He has posted at least 20 points in each of his last nine games, averaging nearly 30 points per game during that span.
Five UNLV players are averaging at least 8.6 points per game this season: Gibbs-Lawhorn (21.0), Kimani Hamilton (12.3), Tyrin Jones (11.3), Howie Fleming Jr. (9.2), and Issac Williamson (8.6). Fleming Jr. leads the team in rebounds and assists, while Gibbs-Lawhorn leads in steals and Jones leads in blocks.
This is UNLV’s first year under head coach Josh Pastner, who previously coached Memphis and Georgia Tech over seven seasons each and holds a career record of 291-201.
The current roster includes only one returning player from last season, Jacob Bannarbie, with thirteen newcomers joining through transfers or as freshmen.
Utah State enters Tuesday’s contest with a 24-5 overall record and sits atop the Mountain West standings at 14-4 in league play. The Aggies have won nine of their last eleven games but lost two of their previous three outings before defeating Grand Canyon most recently.
Utah State is led by MJ Collins (17.8 ppg) and Mason Falslev (15.8 ppg). Nana Owusu-Anane leads the team in rebounding while Drake Allen is top in assists; Allen and Falslev also lead the conference in steals per game. The Aggies rank among national leaders in field goal percentage, turnover margin, and scoring margin.
In their previous meeting this season on January 20, UNLV defeated Utah State on the road, handing them their only home loss so far this year after overcoming a double-digit second-half deficit.
Fans attending Senior Night can receive a complimentary T-shirt from Valley Bank of Nevada while supplies last, with $4 domestic draft beers available to those aged 21 or older prior to tip-off as part of Runnin’ Happy Hour promotions.
Tickets are available online at UNLVtickets.com, by phone at 702-739-FANS (3267), or at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.
The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network with Jordan Kent and Mike O’Donnell providing commentary; radio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio 1100 AM/SiriusXM 381 featuring Matt Neverett, Curtis Terry, and Steve Cofield.
