Photo Credit - Savannah Davison
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - There are losses, and then there are nights that linger.
For the Runnin’ Rebels, Tuesday’s 98-66 defeat at Wyoming fell firmly into the latter category, a game head coach Josh Pastner repeatedly described as an “out-of-body experience.”
Now, with little time to reset, the Rebels face one of the Mountain West’s most dangerous offensive teams Friday night: the Colorado State Rams at Moby Arena.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
What Went Wrong and Why UNLV Isn’t Panicking
The Wyoming loss was jarring, not because UNLV was out-schemed but because it simply could not score.
The Rebels generated offense in the areas that usually define their identity:
35 shots in the lane
Over 50 free-throw opportunities
Just 11 three-point attempts
And still, the points never came.
Photo Credit - Savannah Davison
UNLV finished roughly 25-for-52 at the free-throw line, went 9-for-26 at the rim, and 9-for-36 in the paint, numbers so extreme that Pastner openly admitted he had rarely
seen anything like it in his 15-year career. “The hardest thing to coach is when you can’t score,” Pastner said. “It’s demoralizing when you keep missing free throws and short shots. It snowballed.”
Importantly, Pastner didn’t frame the loss as systemic. Instead, he called it an aberration, a perfect storm of missed finishes, emotional drift, and momentum gone wrong.
“Softness and Selfishness”
Pastner did not mince words when describing UNLV’s response as things began to unravel. “We played with softness and selfishness,” he said. “That’s a recipe for disaster, and that’s not who we are.”
Players echoed the same sentiment, pointing to disconnection rather than confusion. Defensive communication dipped. Offensive execution stalled. Trust eroded possession by possession.
That honesty matters, especially heading into one of the league’s toughest road environments.
Back to Basics: Finishing School Returns
One immediate adjustment has already been made.
Pastner reintroduced what he calls “finishing school” — a physical, contact-heavy drills focused on converting at the rim. The Rebels had gone more than a week without those reps due to illness, schedule compression, and travel. “Getting hit with a bag, finishing through contact, we went back to it,” Pastner said. “We’ll do it again at shootaround.”
The emphasis is simple: if UNLV gets the same shots Friday that it got Tuesday, the math should correct itself.
Players to Watch
UNLV
Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn - UNLV’s offensive engine. When the Rebels struggle to score, his ability to push tempo, draw fouls, and create downhill pressure becomes essential. He cannot afford another quiet night finishing at the rim.
Kimani Hamilton - The Rebels’ most versatile wing defender. Hamilton’s length and physicality will be tested constantly in ball-screen actions and closeouts against CSU’s shooters.
Tyrin Jones - UNLV’s interior tone-setter. His rim runs, offensive rebounding, and finishing through contact directly address the issues that plagued the Rebels in Wyoming.
Colorado State
Josh Pascarelli - One of the Mountain West’s most dangerous perimeter scorers, closing in on 1,000 career points. He can break defensive discipline with a single hot stretch.
Brandon Rechsteiner - CSU’s stabilizer. Elite assist-to-turnover numbers, strong pull-up shooting, and complete control of pace.
Kyle Jorgensen - A matchup nightmare. Efficient scorer, stretch ability, and physical rebounder who punishes late rotations.
Keys To The Game
Finish the Possession. This is non-negotiable. The Rebels don’t need better shots; they need to convert. Layups and free throws are the Rebels’ offensive lifeline, especially on the road.
Guard the Ball Screen. Colorado State’s offense lives in ball-screen reads. Poor angles or late communication will lead directly to open threes. UNLV’s guards must be decisive; no half-coverage, no drifting.
Control Emotional Runs. Moby Arena rewards momentum. CSU’s shooting can flip a game in two minutes. The Rebels must value possessions after makes and misses alike, especially following turnovers or long rebounds.
Win the Physical Margins. Rebounding, paint touches, and foul pressure still favor UNLV on paper. That advantage only matters if the Rebels embrace contact rather than avoid it.
Stay Connected. Players called Tuesday “disconnected.” Friday is about voices, trust, and execution. If the Rebels stay together defensively, the offense has time to breathe.
Why This Game Matters More Than One Result
From a resume standpoint, this is a Quad 2 opportunity for UNLV; the kind of game that quietly shapes postseason conversations later in the year.
But internally, the stakes are more personal. “This league tests who you are when you get punched,” Pastner said. “We got punched. Now we see how we respond.”
UNLV doesn’t need perfection Friday night. It needs connectivity. It needs finishing. It needs to look like itself again.
If it does, the Rebels can give themselves a chance even in one of the Mountain West’s toughest buildings.
And after Tuesday, simply looking like UNLV again would be a meaningful step forward.
