LAS VEGAS — After a brief pause for the Christmas break, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels return to the floor Monday night with a familiar assignment: re-establish rhythm, protect health, and handle business against an overmatched opponent.

UNLV hosts the La Sierra Golden Eagles, an NAIA program out of Riverside, California, at the Thomas & Mack Center in what marks the Rebels’ final non-conference game of the season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., closing a brief window before Mountain West play resumes in earnest.

For UNLV (5-6, 1-0 Mountain West), the matchup is less about the opponent and more about the process. The Rebels last played Dec. 20, opening conference play with an 84-72 home win over Fresno State that offered both reassurance and reminders.

That game did not erase lingering flaws; fouling and defensive rebounding still surfaced, but it revealed something new. UNLV showed it could absorb momentum swings and respond with purpose, closing the final eight minutes by forcing turnovers, converting in transition, and finishing at the line.

Monday’s game is designed to reinforce those habits, not stress them.

December offered a clear snapshot of UNLV’s uneven rhythm.

On Dec. 7, the Rebels earned their most complete win of the season, surviving a 75-74 road victory at Stanford built on interior scoring, defensive toughness, and late-game composure. UNLV scored 48 points in the paint and executed well enough down the stretch to escape despite a significant rebounding deficit.

Six days later, that continuity disappeared. Against Tennessee State at a neutral site, UNLV stalled offensively, shot under 38 percent from the field, and left 13 points at the free-throw line in a 63-60 loss. The Rebels defended well enough to stay competitive but never imposed control, allowing a winnable game to slip away.

Those two performances framed the gap UNLV has struggled to close. When execution and decision-making hold, the Rebels can win away from home against quality competition. When they don’t, the margin disappears.

That inconsistency resurfaced, and evolved, in UNLV’s Mountain West opener against Fresno State Bulldogs.

The Rebels opened with the same clarity and pace that carried them at Stanford, building a 15-point first-half lead through pressure defense and transition offense. They then lost control as fouling and second-chance points allowed Fresno State back into the game, echoing the breakdowns seen against Tennessee State.

This time, however, UNLV responded.

Over the final eight minutes, the Rebels forced turnovers, converted in transition, and closed with composure. For the first time all month, UNLV didn’t just show both versions of itself; it survived the gap between them.

That progression matters entering Monday night.

The priority for UNLV is rhythm. The holiday break interrupted what had already been a choppy season shaped by lineup changes, minor injuries, and limited continuity.

UNLV averages 81.2 points per game and prefers to play fast, relying on early paint touches, kick-outs off penetration, and transition opportunities created by defensive pressure. When timing slips, possessions stall into half-court exchanges that neutralize those strengths.

Games following extended breaks can dull execution. UNLV’s staff will be looking for quick ball movement and early energy to prevent the game from drifting.

With conference play looming, staying healthy is just as important as the final score. UNLV’s rotation has already been tested this season, and Monday is not the night to gamble with unnecessary contact or extended minutes.

The goal is straightforward: build separation early, manage workloads responsibly, and exit the night intact.

UNLV has already shown what urgency against an NAIA opponent looks like. In its season opener, the Rebels defeated Lincoln (Calif.) 123-59, forcing 20 turnovers and scoring 27 points off those mistakes.

When UNLV commits to pressure defense and pace, lower-division opponents struggle to initiate offense, let alone sustain it. La Sierra enters with a 7-6 record and has been competitive at its level, but results against Division I opponents highlight the gap in physicality and pressure tolerance.

If UNLV applies consistent ball pressure and plays with pace, the margin should grow quickly.

La Sierra’s offense revolves around senior forward Jasper Reinalda, a highly efficient interior scorer averaging 16.2 points and 12.6 rebounds while shooting better than 75 percent from the field. Guards Makael Reynolds and Stephen Perry provide perimeter scoring, with Godfrey Little offering additional spacing.

The Golden Eagles arrive after an 88-53 loss at Cal State Northridge on Dec. 19 and an earlier 90-49 defeat at UC Riverside, struggling in both games to protect the ball and generate paint production.

Against UNLV, the path to competitiveness is narrow: limit turnovers, slow tempo, and avoid giving the Rebels transition oxygen.

Junior guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn leads UNLV at 17.2 points per game, serving as the offense’s primary creator. Senior forward Kimani Hamilton provides physicality and interior scoring. At the same time, freshman big man Tyrin Jones has emerged as an efficient finisher and rim protector when able to stay on the floor.

Depth has been a strength in non-conference play, with Al Green and Naas Cunningham providing scoring bursts off the bench.

Re-establish flow.
Early pace and decisive execution will reveal whether the break dulled timing.

Stay healthy.
Minute management and discipline outweigh style points.

Put the foot down early.
Pressure defense, transition scoring, and rebounding discipline should allow UNLV to control the game well before halftime.

The most meaningful indicators will be process metrics: turnovers forced, points off those turnovers, defensive rebounding, and lineup cohesion. If those areas are sharp, UNLV will have accomplished its objective.

Ultimately, Monday night is about standards. UNLV has one final opportunity before conference play resumes to reinforce its identity, sharpen its habits, and carry momentum into January.

If the Rebels play to their profile, the outcome should be clear long before the final horn.