Mountain West Basketball Tournament: UNLV Rebels Survive Wyoming Cowboys in Thrilling Opener

UNLV Holds Off Wyoming in Nail-Biting Mountain West Tournament Opener

The 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship kicked off with a barnburner, as the No. 8 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels narrowly defeated the No. 9 Wyoming Cowboys 73-70. Despite a monumental second-half comeback from Wyoming, UNLV’s clutch play and defensive prowess secured their spot in the quarterfinals.

First-Half Struggles for Wyoming

The first half belonged to UNLV, who built a commanding 13-point lead at halftime. Wyoming struggled mightily from the field, shooting a dismal 12-38 (31.6%) overall and a woeful 2-17 (11.8%) from beyond the arc. The Runnin’ Rebels capitalized on Wyoming’s offensive woes, establishing a significant advantage before the break.

Cowboys Roar Back in the Second Half

However, the Cowboys weren’t ready to go down without a fight. Wyoming emerged from halftime with renewed energy, mounting a furious comeback that briefly saw them take the lead. Damarion Dennis spearheaded the charge, but UNLV responded with poise and determination.

Key Performances and Clutch Plays

UNLV coach Josh Pastner praised his team’s late-game execution, stating, “I thought our late-game execution, which has been pretty good for the most part for a lot of this year… We’ve won a lot of close games, so our late-game execution really was at a high level.”

While star Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn was held scoreless in the second half after a strong 15-point first half, Kimani Hamilton stepped up in a big way. Gibbs-Lawhorn credited Hamilton, urging him to take over down the stretch. Hamilton delivered, hitting a clutch turnaround jumper and sinking two crucial free throws with just two seconds remaining to extend UNLV’s lead to three.

Tyrin Jones also made a significant impact, finishing with six blocks – tied for the fourth-most in Mountain West Tournament history. His most critical block came with under 10 seconds left, denying Damarion Dennis’s putback attempt and sealing the victory for UNLV. Jones described the play, saying, “I got just enough and I was thankful to get it out of the sky… I just knew my timing was going to be enough.”

Looking Ahead

The Runnin’ Rebels will now face the No. 1 seed, Utah State, in the quarterfinals on Thursday. UNLV will need to maintain their defensive intensity and find consistent scoring if they hope to advance further in the Mountain West Basketball Tournament. The tournament promises to be filled with exciting matchups and intense competition as teams battle for a coveted NCAA Tournament berth.