Pastner Era Begins with Upset: UNLV Falls to UT-Martin
The UNLV basketball team started its season with a 10-point lead in the first half against UT-Martin at the Thomas & Mack Center, marking coach Josh Pastner’s debut with the Rebels.
Forward Kimani Hamilton (2) competed vigorously, reaching for a loose ball ahead of UT-Martin’s guard Filip Petkovski (32) during the second half.
Despite a promising start, the Rebels struggled in the second half, committing 22 turnovers and allowing 47 points, which led to the Ohio Valley Conference visitors stealing an 86-81 win.
This defeat is a setback for UNLV, which is rebuilding under Pastner while aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. The game revealed a lack of offensive flow, rushed errors, and poor execution.
"I just feel sick to my stomach," Pastner said. "There were things that we did today that I just did not recognize from our team. We did not practice like that. Twenty-two turnovers, we were doing things with the ball that we have not done for five months."
UNLV entered the game as a 17-point betting favorite and showed moments of dominance in the first half before faltering later.
Game Highlights
- UNLV led early by 10 points in the first half
- Team committed 22 turnovers overall
- Allowed 47 points in the second half
- Lost by a close margin, 86-81
This opening game highlighted the challenges facing the new coach and the need for better consistency moving forward.
Summary: UNLV’s promising start under coach Pastner faltered due to turnovers and second-half struggles, resulting in a disappointing upset loss to UT-Martin.