UNLV Stanford basketball: Rebels escape 75–74 for first close win

A chaotic final minute

The final 60 seconds were a blur. Stanford grabbed a 73–72 lead with 49 seconds left after an Ebuka Okorie jumper and free throw, but Kimani Hamilton answered with a turnaround jumper to give UNLV a 74–73 edge. Okorie tied it at the line with 14 seconds remaining, and the Rebels held for the last possession.

Driving left, Hamilton drew contact with two seconds on the clock. He missed the first free throw but knocked down the second, pushing UNLV ahead 75–74. Stanford’s last-second heave never came close, and the Rebels finally closed out a one-possession game that had eluded them all season.

Grinding out a win despite free-throw struggles

UNLV made the finish harder than it needed to be, shooting just 15-for-26 from the free-throw line and missing several chances to create separation earlier in the half. But they compensated by owning the paint, outscoring Stanford 48–28 and shooting 47 percent from the field. Stephen, Hamilton (14 points), and freshman guard D. J. Gibbs-Lawhorn (13 points) led the offense.

What the win means

Against a Stanford team that dominated the glass and hit nine threes, UNLV needed toughness more than rhythm. They found just enough of it in the final seconds to win the kind of tight, physical game they hadn’t solved yet this season. As Josh Pastner said in late November, “We’ve just got to scrap, claw, kick, fight, just find a way to win.” On Sunday, they did.

What’s next for the Runnin’ Rebels

UNLV returns home next Saturday for the Jack Jones Classic, facing Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m. PT at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson. The Rebels then head back to Las Vegas on Dec. 20 to open Mountain West play at the Thomas & Mack Center against Fresno State at 4 p.m. PT on the MW Network/SSSEN, marking their first conference game of the season and their final matchup before the holiday break.

Related stories