UNLV erases second-half deficit to upset Utah State
UNLV handed Utah State one of its most surprising results of the season on Jan. 20, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to earn an 86-76 win at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and snap the Aggies’ perfect home record.
Utah State entered the night as the Mountain West’s most efficient team, leading the league in several offensive metrics while also ranking among the top three in defensive production. But against UNLV, those strengths wavered, particularly late, as the Rebels closed the game on a decisive run behind offensive rebounding, shot-making and execution down the stretch.
The Aggies set the tone early. Mason Falslev continued his recent scoring surge with aggressive drives to the basket, and Utah State’s defensive pressure sparked an early 7-0 run. Adlan Elamin added a steal and finish, Garry Clark swatted a shot and the Aggies consistently turned deflections into quick scores.
“We did a good job early creating tempo,” said head coach Jerrod Calhoun. “We got shots, we were active and we were playing how we want to play.”
UNLV weathered the opening push and gradually settled in behind its size and athleticism.
Kimani Hamilton scored the Rebels’ first points on a putback, and Tyrin Jones repeatedly attacked the rim, using his length to finish through contact. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn found his rhythm midway through the half, knocking down a pair of threes — including a deep shot at the shot clock buzzer — as UNLV leaned on second-chance opportunities to stay close.
Despite being sent to the free-throw line frequently — the Rebels committed 14 fouls in the first half — Utah State was unable to fully separate. MJ Collins Jr, the Aggies’ leading scorer, faced heavy defensive attention and struggled to generate clean looks, a trend Calhoun said has followed Collins Jr in recent games.
“When you’re averaging 20 a game, good coaches are going to be physical with you,” Calhoun said. “He’s part of the game plan now. We’ve got to help him get easier baskets, and we need other guys to step up as well.”
By halftime, Utah State had just two assists, well below its season average of 18.1 per game, and the teams went into the break tied 38-38. The Aggies’ half-court execution sputtered, even as the Spectrum crowd remained engaged throughout a physical first half.
Utah State appeared to seize control early in the second half. Drake Allen ignited a stretch of fastbreak basketball with multiple steals and finishes, and the Aggies pushed the lead to 58-44 behind transition scoring and improved defensive activity. Elamin, Falslev and Karson Templin all capitalized in space, and Utah State racked up 11 fastbreak points in the opening minutes of the half.
“That’s who we are when we’re at our best,” Templin said. “Getting stops, getting out and running, playing off each other.”
UNLV responded by methodically chipping away. Jones, who briefly left the game in the first half with an apparent knee injury before returning with a brace, became a focal point in the paint. He scored through contact, drew fouls and consistently extended possessions with offensive rebounds. UNLV finished with 13 offensive boards and a +9 rebounding margin.
“They beat us on the glass,” Calhoun said. “That’s effort, that’s toughness, and they were better than us there tonight.”
As Utah State’s lead dwindled, the game tightened in the final eight minutes. Walter Brown provided a lift off the bench for UNLV, hitting timely shots, while Gibbs-Lawhorn continued to attack off the dribble. A banked three by Allen briefly swung momentum back to the Aggies, but UNLV answered immediately, reclaiming the lead and forcing Utah State to play from behind.
Late in the game, UNLV repeatedly attacked the same side of the floor, a breakdown Templin said Utah State failed to correct.
“They were running the same play over and over, driving it right every time,” Templin said. “We just didn’t stop it.”
In the final three minutes, UNLV made the plays Utah State could not. Jones converted a putback to extend the Rebels’ advantage, Gibbs-Lawhorn buried a three to push the lead to five and UNLV capitalized at the free-throw line after Utah State turnovers and missed opportunities. Gibbs-Lawhorn’s late steal and free throws effectively sealed the outcome.
UNLV shot an efficient 57% in the second half and closed the game by making its final free throws while Utah State struggled to generate stops and clean looks as the clock wound down.
After the game, Templin repeatedly pointed to execution and effort as the deciding factors.
“We didn’t make winning plays,” he said. “We didn’t play hard enough in the second half and execute at a high enough level to win the game. That’s totally on us.”
Templin also acknowledged the challenges of a condensed Mountain West schedule but emphasized that preparation and focus must improve.
“We need to have better practices,” he said. “Myself included. There’s no excuse for it.”
Calhoun echoed those sentiments and was blunt in his assessment of the night.
“I thought we got out-coached. We got out-played,” he said. “There’s no excuses to play the way we did.”
Calhoun cited recent practices, communication issues and bench production as contributing factors while also pointing to broader concerns with Utah State’s half-court offense.
“I don’t love our half-court offense,” Calhoun said. “Our spacing, our screening, our cutting — it’s not good enough right now. We’ve got to get better.”
This past week has signaled a setback for a Utah State team that has leaned on efficiency, pace and defensive consistency throughout the season. Now 6-2 in Mountain West play, the Aggies — who were recently ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll — may now need a conference tournament title to secure a fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
With league play intensifying, Utah State will look to regroup quickly as it heads to Fort Collins for an 8 p.m. matchup against Colorado State on Jan. 23 airing on FS1.