UNLV basketball falls to Rutgers to close Players Era tourney

UNLV Rebels basketball head coach Josh Pastner reacts to a play during the second half of a Players Era Championship tournament basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. Photo by: Steve Marcus

The UNLV basketball team held a six-point halftime lead today against Rutgers in its final game of the Players Era tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But, just like the previous two games of the tournament, the Rebels struggled in the second half because of a short bench in an 80-65 defeat.

Emmanuel Ogbole set career highs with 21 points and 13 rebounds for Rutgers, and Dylan Grant added 17 points and eight rebounds.

"Credit to Rutgers. We were up 39-33 at halftime, but they came out with more energy to start the second half," UNLV coach Josh Pastner said. "It was pretty much a tale of two halves. I felt all three games that we played in this tournament, we looked small, which is because of our three five-men were out with injuries."

Rutgers trailed 39-33 at halftime before scoring the opening 11 points of the second half, with seven points from Grant, for a five-point lead. Ogbole's dunk with 10 minutes left put Rutgers ahead by double-digits for good at 57-47.

Grant reached 14 second-half points with 6:12 remaining, while UNLV had just 13 points on 4-of-21 shooting. Darren Buchanan Jr. scored all 15 of his points in the second half as Rutgers made 11 of 23 field goals and 22 of 27 free throws in a 47-point half.

Tyrin Jones, Kimani Hamilton and Al Green all scored 13 points apiece for the Rebels (3-5). Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 10 points. UNLV went 0-3 in the event, also losing to Maryland and Alabama.

UNLV was without the following players because of injury: Jacob Bannarbie, Myles Che, Ladji Dembele, and Emmanuel Stephen. The lack of depth showed in the second half of all three games.

"Tough week for sure, but we'll get better," Pastner said. "We need to get healthy first and foremost. All of our focus and energy will be towards making sure that we are as ready as we can be when we enter conference play in later December."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.