LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 28 points to lead UNLV to an 84-72 victory over Fresno State in a Mountain West men’s basketball game Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin’ Rebels, who led 39-41 at halftime, used a 45-31 second-half surge to secure the win. Gibbs-Lawhorn keyed the effort, hitting four 3-pointers. Kimani Hamilton added 20 points for UNLV, while Tyrin Jones scored 18. Wilson Jacques led Fresno State with 18 points. The Bulldogs shot just 42.2% from the field, while UNLV connected on 57.1% of its attempts. The Rebels also held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 19 of 22. UNLV improved to 5-6. Fresno State fell to 6-6. Attendance was 6,113.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels overcame a narrow halftime deficit to defeat the Fresno State Bulldogs 84-72 in a Mountain West Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. A crowd of 6,113 saw the Runnin’ Rebels, led by a dominant 38-point performance from guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, improve to 5-6 overall. Fresno State, which got 18 points from 7-foot center Wilson Jacques, dropped to an even 6-6. The most important part of the game unfolded in the opening minutes of the second half, where UNLV transformed a two-point deficit into a commanding lead from which Fresno State never recovered. The Bulldogs held a slim 41-39 edge at intermission, but the Runnin’ Rebels erupted with a 16-4 run to start the final period. The blitz was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense. UNLV forced three early Fresno State turnovers and blocked two shots during the stretch, while Gibbs-Lawhorn and forward Kimani Hamilton provided the scoring punch. Gibbs-Lawhorn, a sophomore from Lafayette, Indiana, hit a 3-pointer, a layup and assisted on two other baskets, while Hamilton added five points, including a thunderous alley-oop dunk. When the dust settled just over four minutes into the half, UNLV led 55-45 and controlled the game’s tempo completely. Fresno State never got closer than six points the rest of the way. The Bulldogs were plagued by poor shooting, connecting on just 27 of 64 attempts from the field for 42.2%. They also managed only seven assists against 12 turnovers. UNLV, by contrast, shot a scalding 57.1% on 28-of-49 shooting, dished out 10 assists and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 19 of 22 attempts. Gibbs-Lawhorn was the engine for UNLV, playing 38 minutes and adding four assists and a block to his game-high point total. He was supported by a strong frontcourt duo. Hamilton, a junior from Jackson, Mississippi, scored 20 points, and sophomore forward Tyrin Jones, a Las Vegas native, contributed 18 points, three assists and three blocks. For Fresno State, Jacques, from Metz, France, was a consistent presence inside, adding two blocks. Guard Zaon Collins, also a Las Vegas product, had 15 points and a game-high seven assists, while Jake Heidbreder of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, scored 17. David Douglas came off the bench to add 12 points for the Bulldogs. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. UNLV built an early 27-18 advantage behind hot 3-point shooting from Gibbs-Lawhorn and Howie Fleming, but Fresno State closed the period on a 23-12 run. A 3-pointer from Douglas as time expired in the half gave the Bulldogs their 41-39 lead and momentary momentum, which was swiftly extinguished after halftime. The victory was a return to form for UNLV, which was projected as a heavy favorite by analytics but had lost four of its previous five games, including a home loss to Tennessee State its last time out. Fresno State saw a two-game winning streak snapped and will look to regroup before its next conference matchup. UNLV next hosts non-conference opponent La Sierra on Monday, Dec. 29. Fresno State’s next action is at home against Utah State on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Two Mountain West teams looking to halt late-December slides will meet when the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels host the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State (6-5) has lost three straight, including a narrow 89-87 road loss at Cal State Northridge on Dec. 10 in its most recent outing. The Bulldogs’ offense has been inconsistent during the skid, scoring 87 points in that defeat but managing just 58 in a loss at Arkansas four days prior. Guard Zaon Collins has been a bright spot for Fresno State. He scored a season-high 24 points against Cal State Northridge and is averaging 14.8 points and 5.0 assists over his last five games. His playmaking will be key against UNLV’s defense. The Runnin’ Rebels (4-6) have also struggled, dropping four of their last five. They are coming off a 63-60 home loss to Tennessee State on Dec. 13. UNLV’s season has featured dramatic swings, from a 115-76 road loss at Alabama to a solid 75-74 win at Stanford. UNLV will rely on guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who is coming off a 13-point performance against Tennessee State. He has shown scoring punch, including a 25-point outing against Alabama, and will be a primary focus for the Fresno State defense. This contest opens Mountain West play for both schools. The conference schedule intensifies after the new year, making this an early opportunity to build momentum. For UNLV, protecting its home court is paramount after the surprising loss to Tennessee State. For Fresno State, stopping its losing streak before a tough stretch of league games is the immediate priority. The Bulldogs won both meetings last season. The teams will meet again in Fresno on Feb. 3.