UNLV has reached the end of a long, bruising stretch in Las Vegas, and the third game in four days comes with no relief. The Rebels close out the Players Era Festival against a Rutgers team desperate to snap a three-game skid, and Pastner’s group arrives short-handed, fatigued, and still searching for lineup continuity.

Maryland and No. 8 Alabama exposed the same reality: UNLV simply doesn’t resemble the roster it was built to be. With key frontcourt pieces out, limited size, and players logging minutes out of position, the Rebels have been in survival mode. But Thursday offers a reset, and a chance to finish the event with some stability before regrouping for December.

The challenge: Rutgers brings size, physicality, and a disruptive defense under Steve Pikiell, even with an overhauled roster of their own. And they’re playing with urgency after back-to-back losses to Tennessee and Notre Dame.

This is a completely rebuilt Rutgers roster with only four scholarship returners: Jamichael Davis, Emmanuel Ogbole, Dylan Grant, and Bryce Dortch, plus walk-on Max Fradkin. Pikiell added seven freshmen, including international prospects and his highest-rated recruiting class ever, along with three transfers.

Despite the skids in Vegas, Rutgers has been statistically solid:

F Dylan Grant - 15.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 53% FG (Rutgers’ most consistent scorer and the offensive backbone.)

G Tariq Francis - 13.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.0 APG (High-volume guard who’s dangerous downhill.)

G Jamichael Davis - 10.0 PPG, 52.6% from three (Coming off a career-high 21 vs. Notre Dame.)

C Emmanuel Ogbole - 5.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 64% FG (A physical, true center. Exactly the type UNLV has struggled to defend while short-handed.)

Rutgers’ weakness? Turnovers (85 in seven games) and streaky shooting. But this is still a long, athletic, Big Ten roster that defends and rebounds.

The Rebels are averaging 87.0 points per game on the season, but that number is heavily inflated by the early wins. Against high-major competition in Vegas, scoring and interior defense have both dipped.

UNLV has scored 609 points and allowed 609 points this season, 87.0 both scored and allowed, underscoring the volatility of the first seven games.

Only one returning player (Bannarbie) is on the roster; UNLV is relying on 13 newcomers: Eight D-I transfers + one former pro + one JUCO + three freshmen.

“We had opportunities to pull away… but our numbers caught up to us. We just haven’t shot the three well this year… I believe we’re due for a breakout.”

“Jacob… I wrote his name in the starting lineup, and right before tip they told me he couldn’t play because of his calf.”

“We just have to get healthy. By conference play, I think we can be really good.”

This was the first full acknowledgment that depth and injuries are directly altering the identity of the team.

“Alabama is really good. As limited and as small as we are without our frontcourt, it was going to be an uphill battle.”

“I’ve never dealt with this many injuries in my entire coaching career.”

“Tyrin’s a freshman playing the 5... he’s really a 3/4. Against an SEC team with NBA players, it’s tough.”

“The only way we get better is getting healthy. We’re hoping to be whole by December 20.”

The big takeaway: UNLV believes the team that shows up in Mountain West play will be dramatically different from this week’s patchwork rotation.

UNLV’s Undersized Front Line vs. Rutgers’ Bigs

This is the same problem Maryland and Alabama exploited.

Rebounding and rim protection will dictate the first 10 minutes.

Guards: Gibbs-Lawhorn & Williamson vs. Francis & Davis

Both teams rely heavily on their backcourts. UNLV has the edge with explosive scoring from their guards. Rutgers has the edge with physicality + ball security when locked in

Pace

UNLV wants to run; Rutgers wants to slow it and grind possession-by-possession. The winner of the tempo battle will control the terms of the game.

3-Point Shooting

UNLV is due. Pastner has said it twice now. Rutgers is allowing teams to shoot 38% from deep through seven games. If there is ever going to be a breakout night, this is the matchup.

Keys to the Game

Win the Guard Battle Early: Gibbs-Lawhorn needs downhill lanes, not halfcourt traps.Rutgers will try to make this a fistfight.

Survive the Glass: If UNLV can keep Rutgers from a +10 rebounding margin, they’re in it.

Get Something From the Bench: The rotation has shrunk to seven playable bodies. Even 8-10 productive minutes from Dembele changes the physicality.

Limit Empty Trips: UNLV’s droughts vs. Maryland and Alabama turned competitive stretches into avalanches.

Stay Out of Foul Trouble: With no size and no depth, early fouls equal disaster.

This is UNLV’s last chance to salvage something from the Players Era Festival before a much-needed stretch of recovery and reassessment. Rutgers is bigger, deeper, and healthier, but they’re also reeling and turnover-prone.

If UNLV can speed the game up, hit shots, and keep Jones/Hamilton on the floor, the Rebels can turn this into a track meet and steal momentum going into December.

If not, Rutgers’ physicality may dictate the night.

Tip-off: 1:30 PM PT on truTV.