BOISE, Idaho — Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn’s deep 3-pointer tied a game UNLV had trailed by 23 points. His drive in overtime finally put the Rebels ahead, and Walter Brown’s last defensive rebound helped them finish an 86-83 win over Boise State on Friday at ExtraMile Arena.
Gibbs-Lawhorn scored a career-high 36, including 25 in the second half, as UNLV recovered from a 32-9 deficit and a 17-point hole with less than nine minutes left. The Rebels never led in regulation. Their first advantage came with 2:12 remaining in overtime, after Kimani Hamilton’s second-half shooting and Issac Williamson’s tying 3-pointer in the extra period had helped extend the comeback.
UNLV improved to 13-12 overall and 8-6 in the Mountain West with its third straight win, completing its first regular-season sweep of Boise State since 2019. Gibbs-Lawhorn shot 13-for-22 overall and 6-for-12 from 3-point range and made all four free throws. His point total was the highest by a Rebel since Bryce Hamilton scored 42 at Colorado State in 2022.
The sweep moved UNLV a game ahead of Boise State in the league standings after the teams entered with identical conference records.
The first meeting featured 18 lead changes and 19 ties. Friday had only one lead change, in overtime.
For much of the first half, there was little suggestion that UNLV would have a chance to win. The Rebels made three of their first 19 shots while Drew Fielder and Boise State’s shooters built the 23-point lead. UNLV made five of its last six attempts before halftime to get within 40-29, but the Broncos pushed the margin back to 64-47 with 8:55 left.
UNLV produced one field goal during the first seven minutes. Later, consecutive Rebel turnovers led to back-to-back Carmichael 3-pointers.
Fielder finished with 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range. His range had already hurt UNLV in January, when his last-second 3-pointer forced overtime in Las Vegas. The Rebels won that game 89-85, but Friday’s rematch required them to come from behind while the Broncos were again making shots from outside.
Carmichael made three of four 3-pointers, and Spencer Ahrens made both of his while scoring 10 off the bench.
Buchanan scored nine points on two-of-10 shooting. Andrews made five of 10 shots and delivered five assists.
Hamilton helped change the second half. He scored 10 of his 13 points after the break and made all three of his second-half 3-pointers. His second-chance 3-pointer with 5:55 left capped a 15-0 run and brought UNLV within 64-62. The Rebels turned 11 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points, compared with six for Boise State, giving the recovery chances to continue when the first shot missed.
The Rebels’ 11 offensive rebounds were spread among six players. Hamilton had three, Jones, Brown and Stephen had two apiece, and Bannarbie and Gibbs-Lawhorn had one each. Stephen did not score, but his two offensive boards provided opportunities for teammates.
Boise State still won the total rebounding count 32-30. UNLV did not dominate every possession measure during its comeback. It used its offensive boards well enough to finish with a 16-6 edge in second-chance points and turned the Broncos’ 12 turnovers into 21 points. Those were ways to make up for shooting less efficiently overall and allowing Fielder another productive game.
Tyrin Jones added 12 points, five rebounds and four blocks. UNLV also kept its own turnovers to eight and scored 21 points from Boise State’s 12 giveaways.
Bannarbie supplied nine points in 15 minutes, including his only 3-point attempt and both free throws. Bannarbie did not have to play the largest share of center minutes to contribute; Jones played 37 and Stephen six, giving Pastner several different sources of size during a game that had already become difficult early.
Green supplied four points on two-of-four shooting in six minutes. The Rebels’ bench produced 16 points overall, with Jones accounting for 12.
Fleming went scoreless but had four assists without a turnover in 16 minutes. That was useful ballhandling on a night when Gibbs-Lawhorn’s scoring demanded so much attention. Williamson likewise committed no turnovers and added three steals.
Gibbs-Lawhorn’s availability was itself a change from the Fresno State loss. There, his fifth foul removed him before the final possessions. In Boise, he committed only one foul in more than 44 minutes, stayed available for every part of the second-half recovery and finished with two turnovers. The Rebels received his scoring without having to replace him for the decisive stretch.
The Broncos also did little to help UNLV at the foul line. They made 21 of 23 attempts, with Carmichael converting all seven and Fielder all four. A comeback against that accuracy required actual stops. It could not depend on Boise State giving away repeated points while the clock was stopped.
Boise State attempted 23 free throws to UNLV’s 13 and made 11 more. UNLV offset that advantage with six more field goals, including two more 3-pointers.
Boise State still had the lead in the final minute. Gibbs-Lawhorn tied it at 77 with 38 seconds remaining, and the Broncos could not convert their last opportunity of regulation. For the second time this season, the teams went to overtime.
Williamson made a 3-pointer with 2:57 left in the extra period to tie the game again. Gibbs-Lawhorn then finished his drive with 2:12 to play for UNLV’s first lead. He played 44:11, resting for only 49 seconds early in the first half before carrying the offense through the finish.
Williamson’s night required a different sort of patience. He made only two of seven shots and one of five 3-pointers. The one that fell from outside came in overtime, when UNLV needed three points to draw even.
Overtime finally provided those stops. Boise State made one of four field-goal attempts in the extra five minutes, after making better than half its attempts in the second half. UNLV made three of six, including Williamson’s 3-pointer. The Rebels missed three free throws in overtime, but the single made basket allowed kept those misses from overturning the result.
With Boise State still within two, Dylan Andrews attacked the rim and missed. Brown secured the rebound and made one of two free throws with one second remaining to establish the final three-point margin. UNLV had outscored the Broncos 48-37 in the second half and 9-6 in overtime.
Brown played 41 minutes, scored seven points and collected seven rebounds, five on defense.
The defeat interrupted Boise State’s run of six wins in seven games since the January loss in Las Vegas.
The announced attendance at ExtraMile Arena was 10,155 for Friday’s league game.
Pearson Carmichael scored 16 for Boise State, which shot 49.1% overall and made 10 of 21 3-pointers. UNLV finished at 47.8% and went 12-for-25 from outside. Colorado State visits Wednesday. Pastner praised his players for staying together during the comeback.
