LAS VEGAS, Nev. (November 3, 2026) – Northern Arizona men's basketball led by as much as 12 in the first half, but UNLV took advantage of its size and athleticism in the second half to best the Lumberjacks, 89-77, in the 2026-27 season opener for both teams.
 
Although NAU shot 52.1% from the field and 47.8% from behind the arc, the Lumberjacks struggled in the turnover column, turning the ball over 18 times leading to 20 Runnin' Rebel points. Additionally, UNLV grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, allowing the home team to claim a plus-13 margin in second chance points.
 
"We lost our poise going into halftime and our 12-point lead was down to four," said head coach Shane Burcar. "We got sped up and didn't run our sets, and then of course the offensive rebounds. UNLV is taller and longer than us, but we could've done a better job screening them out. Fouls also hurt us and those factors are hard to overcome to win a basketball game."
 
NAU committed 25 fouls, which led to UNLV shooting 32 free throws. The Runnin' Rebels outscored the Lumberjacks by nine at the charity stripe, negating NAU's shooting percentage advantages.
 
NAU settled in after falling behind 10-2 out of the games, getting back into the game with a pair of Ryan Abelman 3-pointers before Chris Komin single-handedly pulled the 'Jacks ahead.
 
Komin knocked down a step-back 3-pointer to give NAU its first lead of the game, 18-17, at the 11:25 mark. Komin followed with three free throws after being fouled behind the arc and all in all, scored 14 of his 16 first half points during a 16-6 surge over three minutes that swung the momentum squarely in NAU's favor.
 
NAU was blistering hot in the first half, shooting 57.7% from the field and hitting 8-of-13 (61.5%) behind the arc.
 
An and-1 by Tamiel Green gave the 'Jacks their largest lead of the game, 43-31, with 3:02 left before the half, but the Runnin' Rebels closed with a 12-4 run to climb within 47-43 after 20 minutes of play.
 
The two teams traded blows through the first nine minutes of the second half until UNLV went on a pivotal 7-0 run. After Komin tied the game at 62-62 with 11:07 remaining, UNLV scored the next seven points and 12 of the next 14 overall to open up a 74-64 advantage.
 
Abelman briefly brought the 'Jacks within seven with a 3-pointer, but the Runnin' Rebels used another 7-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 81-67, with 5:34 to play.
 
"At the end of the day, we held a 12-point lead and it's about results," Burcar said. "We have to win individual matchups. But I told the team I want them to leave here with hope. I know we have high-character guys and there's a lot to look forward to."
 
Komin scored 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, in his season debut to lead the Lumberjacks. Lucas Toukam recorded 13 points and five rebounds in his collegiate debut, while Abelman added 12 points in his hometown of Las Vegas. Off the bench, Green scored eight points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
 
All five UNLV starters scored in double-figures led by Sebastian Mack's game-high 31 points.
 
The Lumberjacks head to Albuquerque, N.M. on Saturday to face New Mexico, the preseason Mountain West Conference favorite, at 4 p.m. MST.
 
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