LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels showcased a potent and efficient offensive performance Saturday night, cruising to a decisive 101-69 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center.

In front of a crowd of 4,896, the Runnin’ Rebels (1-1) left no doubt, using a dominant first-half run to seize control and never looking back. The win served as a strong rebound from their season-opening loss to Tennessee-Martin.

The game was a tale of offensive efficiency. UNLV scored its 101 points on just 73 possessions, translating to a stellar offensive rating of 139.2. Chattanooga (1-2), by contrast, managed 69 points from 67 possessions for an offensive rating of 102.8. The Runnin’ Rebels’ ability to capitalize on their opportunities was the defining characteristic of the contest.

UNLV set the tone early. After Chattanooga’s Teddy Washington Jr. opened the scoring with a jump shot, the Rebels embarked on a 14-2 run. The surge was fueled by aggressive play in the paint and a disruptive defense that forced the Mocs into difficult shots and turnovers. Kimani Hamilton, a 6-foot-8 forward from Clinton, Mississippi, was instrumental in the early going, scoring on a dunk and drawing fouls to get to the free-throw line.

The Rebels’ lead ballooned to 20 points late in the first half before settling at 47-36 going into the break. Chattanooga showed brief flashes, with a pair of three-pointers from Tate Darner and Jordan Frison keeping them within striking distance, but they could not string together enough stops to mount a sustained challenge.

Any hopes of a Mocs comeback were extinguished quickly after halftime. UNLV exploded out of the locker room, opening the second half on a 15-4 run to push its lead past 20 points. The Rebels continued to pour it on, with their advantage growing to over 30 points in the final minutes before closing out the 32-point win.

UNLV’s offensive attack was balanced and relentless. Naas Cunningham, a 6-foot-7 guard from West Orange, New Jersey, led all scorers with 25 points, showcasing his shooting range and ability to get to the basket. Hamilton was a force inside, just missing a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds.

The backcourt duo of Howie Fleming Jr. and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn provided significant contributions. Fleming, from Louisville, Kentucky, filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Gibbs-Lawhorn, from Lafayette, Indiana, added 13 points. Jacob Bannarbie, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward from Anchorage, Alaska, provided a strong interior presence off the bench with 10 points and four rebounds.

For Chattanooga, Washington, a 6-foot-2 guard from Blytheville, Arkansas, led the way with 18 points. Frison, from Memphis, Tennessee, added 13 points, but the Mocs struggled to find consistent offense outside of their backcourt. Darner, from Lakeland, Florida, contributed nine points and six rebounds.

The statistical disparity painted a clear picture of UNLV’s dominance. The Rebels shot a blistering 55.9% from the field (33 of 59) compared to Chattanooga’s 45.3% (24 of 53). While three-point shooting was relatively even, UNLV’s decisive advantage came at the free-throw line, where they made 27 of 37 attempts while Chattanooga hit 12 of 15.

UNLV also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Mocs and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points. The Rebels’ defense forced 12 Chattanooga turnovers, converting them into 19 points, and held a commanding 46-28 advantage in points in the paint.

The victory gets UNLV back to .500 as they look ahead to a home game against Montana on Tuesday. Chattanooga, which opened the season with a win over Union Commonwealth before a loss to Saint Mary’s, will try to regroup on the road at Florida Gulf Coast next Saturday.