Tonight is the first real look at a team that barely exists on paper yet. UNLV men's basketball opens the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, November 3, against Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center, and almost everybody in uniform is new.
UNLV begins its second season under head coach Josh Pastner with three returning letterwinners, including two starters, and 11 newcomers. That is not a tweak. That is a rebuild tipping off in public.
A Roster You Will Need a Program For
Here is the fresh insight in the roster math. Nine of the 11 newcomers are Division I transfers and two are freshmen, and the preseason honors do not match the available lineup. Tyrin Jones and fifth-year guard AJ Storr earned Preseason All-Mountain West honors, and freshman Jackson Kiss was named Preseason Freshman of the Year, but UNLV lists Storr as currently ineligible. The most decorated newcomer will not play tonight.
What UNLV does have back is a real anchor. Jones, a Las Vegas native, is the leading returning scorer at 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season. He led the Mountain West in blocked shots at 2.22 per game and earned All-Defensive Team and honorable mention All-MW honors. Sophomore Issac Williamson averaged 8.6 points per game, and redshirt junior Jalen Cunningham also returns.
The newcomers bring their own receipts:
- Dontrez Williams (Lindenwood): 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference, and eighth nationally in steals at 2.59 per game
- Sebastian Mack: a transfer from Missouri who previously earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors at UCLA, and Terrance Ford Jr., a Sun Belt All-Tournament Team pick at Arkansas State before last season at Tulsa
The warm-up act suggests this group can rally. UNLV faced Utah, No. 25 BYU, and Missouri, which was receiving votes, in October exhibitions, and closed the preseason with a 90-81 win over Missouri after rallying from a nine-point second-half deficit. Last season's team finished 18-17 overall and 11-9 in Mountain West play, reached the second round of the NIT, averaged 78.9 points per game, third in the conference, and led the Mountain West in blocked shots at 4.8 per game.
The Other Bench Has a Las Vegas Homecoming
Northern Arizona carries a local twist most fans will miss. The Lumberjacks, entering their eighth season under head coach Shane Burcar, went 10-22 last season and finished 10th in the Big Sky at 4-14. They return just four players, welcome 11 newcomers, and were picked 11th in the Big Sky preseason polls.
Their leading returner is a Las Vegan. Redshirt senior guard Ryan Abelman averaged 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, and he is a Bishop Gorman High School graduate coming home to the Mack. Sophomore Chris Komin averaged 7.8 points per game, and 10.8 in conference play. Watch Abelman early. A homecoming guard can keep an opener uncomfortable longer than expected.
How to Be There Tonight
Tonight is the cheapest first look before Samford visits Saturday, November 7, and Stanford visits Friday, November 13.
- Tipoff: Tuesday, November 3, 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center
- Tickets: single-game tickets start at $16 at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), or at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office; season tickets start at $115
- Stream: MW+ with Matt Neverett on play-by-play and Steve Cofield as analyst; MW+ costs $10.99 per month or $79.99 annually
- Radio: ESPN Radio Las Vegas 1100 AM, with Wyatt Tomchek on play-by-play and Kevaney Martin as analyst
- Get there early: the Runnin' Rebel Happy Hour gives fans 21 and older 20-ounce draft beers for $4, but only through the first four minutes of the game, until 16:00 remains in the first half
That last detail matters. The discount window closes four minutes after tip, so arriving at tipoff is already too late. Get in early, grab a program, and learn 11 new names at once.
