UNLV drops its exhibition opener 77-62 to Washington

The circumstances were as lopsided as they come. Washington, deeper, taller, and healthier, rolled out four top-100 recruits and multiple upperclassmen in their rotation. UNLV, meanwhile, dressed just seven scholarship players, missing both of its primary bigs and two projected starters.

Inactive for UNLV:

That left Pastner with one available player over 6’9” (Jacob Bannarbie) against a Washington team anchored by 7’0” Franck Kepnang and 6’10” Hannes Steinbach, both future pros.

And yet, for long stretches, UNLV matched the Huskies possession for possession through effort and system discipline.

Washington’s superior efficiency told the story, shooting 61% inside the arc and turning its rebounding edge into second-chance buckets. But the Rebels won key effort categories: they forced 16 turnovers, matched UW in offensive boards, and held their own in transition defense despite the size disadvantage.

That balance is exactly what Pastner envisioned when he laid out his early pillars:
→ Shrink the floor.
→ Compete on the glass.
→ Move the ball within 0.5 seconds.

Washington thrives in the open court, particularly behind freshman point guard JJ Mandaquit, who had 12 assists. But UNLV largely contained the Huskies’ early offense, allowing just eight transition chances all game.

Washington converted seven of them (14 points), but nearly every one came directly off a turnover rather than a missed defensive rotation. UNLV’s guards sprinted back, built the wall, and forced UW to play in the half-court, a staple of Pastner’s transition philosophy.

On film, you could see it: Gibbs-Lawhorn pointing to wings, Hamilton crashing late to fill the gap, and Fleming Jr. sliding to the elbows. The Rebels didn’t always finish possessions with a stop, but the positional integrity was there.

For a system built around pace and structure, that’s progress.

Outrebounded 44-33 overall, but even in offensive boards (15–15).

That’s not a moral victory, that’s schematic validation. Without Stephen (7'0", elite rim protector) or Dembele (255 lbs), UNLV used collective rebounding guards flying in, wings boxing out to manufacture second chances. The Rebels generated 18 points off offensive rebounds and limited Washington’s putbacks to 22. Bannarbie grabbed six boards in 24 minutes, Brown added three, and even Gibbs-Lawhorn contributed five.

The numbers backed up what Pastner’s been preaching in practice: “Five to the glass” every time.

Pastner’s signature offensive term, the 0.5 principle, demands a player decide in half a second: shoot, drive, or pass. Against Washington’s size, UNLV’s execution wasn’t perfect, but the intent was clear.

The Rebels assisted on 12 of their 22 made shots (55%) and had their best scoring spurts when the ball didn’t stick.

During an 8-0 Second-half run that cut the deficit to 52-43, all three baskets came within two passes of the initial action, including a Gibbs-Lawhorn pull-up and a Fleming Jr. drive-and-kick sequence that sprung Brown for a corner three.

Even in a low-efficiency outing (34% FG, 22% from deep), the spacing and tempo were improved compared to last season’s static sets.

Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn looked like a floor general ready for a bigger role. He attacked downhill, hit a pair of early threes, and showed composure creating off secondary breaks. His speed forced Washington’s defense to collapse, a dynamic UNLV lacked last season.

Howie Fleming Jr. was physical on both ends and drew multiple offensive fouls, fitting perfectly into Pastner’s “compete through contact” mantra.

Naas Cunningham was streaky but showcased the type of length and shotmaking that will matter when the Rebels are fully healthy.

Down low, Jacob Bannarbie’s activity stood out, boxing out 7-footers and finishing through contact.

Even with limited rim protection, Kimani Hamilton’s 19 minutes offered a blueprint for small-ball versatility, guarding multiple positions, switching onto guards, and hitting a timely three.

UNLV created the right looks; they didn’t fall. The Rebels went 7-for-32 from deep, missing 11 of their first 12 threes. Washington, meanwhile, shot 52% overall, led by Hannes Steinbach’s 24 points and 16 rebounds. The game wasn’t lost on effort or scheme; it was lost on execution. That’s the controllable difference Pastner expects to close quickly once Che, Dembele, and Stephen return.

In short: the bones are there.

This wasn’t about a moral victory. Even shorthanded, UNLV showed clear early buy-in to the identity Josh Pastner is constructing: defense first, pace second, ego last. The numbers revealed a team still learning how to play connected basketball but already embodying the competitive DNA their new coach demands. Once the roster stabilizes, those flashes could easily become habits.

The next step in that process comes on October 28, when the Rebels return home to the Thomas & Mack Center for their second exhibition matchup this time against Lincoln University (CA). Expect the same points of emphasis: ball speed, defensive pride, and rebounding by committee, but with another chance to tighten rotations, reintegrate pieces, and continue building the foundation of a team defined by effort and cohesion rather than circumstance.

UNLV didn’t win the game, but it did win something more foundational: proof that Pastner’s vision is real.

The Rebels’ structure is taking shape one stop, one rebound, and one 0.5 decision at a time, and when the pieces return, those flashes in Seattle might be remembered as the first real step toward UNLV’s resurgence.

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