College Basketball

UT Martin Upsets UNLV 86–81: 5 Final Takes from the Pastner Era Opener

Posted by Kim Muhammad on

The Josh Pastner era at UNLV tipped off with energy, anticipation, and a new brand of basketball inside the Thomas & Mack Center — but the night ended with lessons that must be addressed quickly. UT Martin stunned UNLV 86–81, capitalizing late as the Runnin’ Rebels struggled with turnovers, foul trouble, and defensive breakdowns on the perimeter.

Josh Pastner

With a completely reconstructed roster and a fresh system in place, opening-night growing pains were expected — but some of the issues that surfaced were self-inflicted and fixable. Here are 5 Final Takes from courtside.

5 FINAL TAKES

🎯 1. The Kimani Hamilton Spark Is Real — But He Has to Stay on the Floor

Kimani Hamilton emerged as UNLV’s early tone-setter — a versatile two-way spark plug whose activity on the glass, defensive switching, and ability to impact the game both inside and out gave the Rebels instant life. His energy felt contagious, the kind that can shape this team’s identity moving forward.

UNLV REBELS

However, his 3rd foul at the 9:07 mark in the first half disrupted his rhythm and UNLV’s momentum. His absence in the second half was noticeable, especially when the Rebels needed a stabilizing presence on the floor.

Hamilton’s impact is unquestioned — now it becomes about availability, discipline, and foul management, because his presence changes the temperature of this roster.

⚠️ 2. 22 Turnovers — The Momentum Killer

The number that defined the night: 22 turnovers.

UNLV struggled to value possessions, and those giveaways directly fueled UT Martin’s scoring runs. Live-ball turnovers stalled offensive rhythm and provided the Skyhawks with high-leverage opportunities in transition.

The offense clearly flowed better when Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn was on the floor. His pace, ability to initiate, and capacity to generate paint touches unlock UNLV’s spacing and transition attack. Cleaning up the turnover issue is non-negotiable moving forward.

▲ 3. Perimeter Defensive Rotations Must Tighten

UNLV surrendered too many clean looks from beyond the arc, particularly due to late closeouts and missed weak-side rotations. UT Martin moved the ball with purpose, found shooters in rhythm, and consistently connected from deep.

The film will show communication and rotation breakdowns — especially when UNLV shifted defensive coverages. This area must sharpen quickly because Mountain West competition will punish these lapses even more.

🧠 4. Credit UT Martin — Ball Movement, Pace, and Free Throws Kept Them in Control

UT Martin executed with poise and a clear identity. The Skyhawks:

  • Moved the ball with discipline
  • Played with pace and spacing
  • Knocked down open threes
  • Lived at the free-throw line in the second half

They controlled tempo when it mattered most and slowed the game late by getting to the stripe. UT Martin was the more connected team on opening night — and that was the difference.

🧱 5. The Foundation Is There — But There’s Work to Do

Despite the loss, there are legitimate building blocks in place for this UNLV roster. The length, activity, energy, and style of play signal a refreshing identity under Josh Pastner. The brand of basketball he wants — fast, connected, and disruptive — is visible.

But execution, discipline, and chemistry will determine whether that vision becomes consistent reality. For UNLV to rise in the Mountain West, the formula is straightforward:

  • Value the ball
  • Stay disciplined defensively
  • Keep your impact players on the floor
  • Build continuity and trust

Game 1 was a starting point — not a verdict.

FINAL WORD

Opening night delivered both promise and perspective. There is enough talent, versatility, and upside on this roster to build something competitive — but the details will define how quickly that growth comes.

This group has the tools to develop into a tough matchup by conference play. Now it’s about committing to the habits that win in March, not just in November

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