IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half defensive performance and a crucial late block allowed UNLV to survive a furious second-half rally by UC Irvine and escape with a 75-72 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Bren Events Center.

The Runnin’ Rebels (18-16) built a 13-point halftime lead by stifling the Anteaters’ offense, then withstood a 48-point second-half outburst from the home team to snap a two-game skid. UC Irvine, which fell to 23-12, saw its own two-game winning streak end.

The most critical sequence came in the final seconds with UNLV protecting a three-point lead. After a missed free throw by the Rebels with six seconds left gave UC Irvine a final chance, the Anteaters’ Jurian Dixon attempted a potential game-tying 3-pointer. UNLV’s Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn swatted the shot, and Tyrin Jones secured the defensive rebound to effectively seal the game.

UNLV’s first-half defense was the foundation of the win. The Rebels held UC Irvine to just 24 points on 8-of-30 shooting from the field in the opening period, including a dismal 1-of-8 from 3-point range. The Anteaters also committed eight turnovers against just four assists before the break. Meanwhile, UNLV shot 53.6% in the half, connecting on 6-of-13 from beyond the arc to take a 37-24 lead into the locker room.

The Anteaters stormed back in the second half, spearheaded by Derin Saran. The guard from Istanbul scored 16 of his team-high 18 points after halftime, fueling a run that saw UC Irvine trim what was once a 16-point deficit down to a single possession multiple times in the final minutes. The Anteaters’ pressure defense forced 12 second-half UNLV turnovers, converting them into transition opportunities.

UNLV, however, had enough offensive answers to stay ahead. Jones, a Las Vegas native, led all scorers with 13 points, adding four blocks and two assists in 31 minutes. His interior presence was pivotal, contributing to UNLV’s 8-3 advantage in blocked shots. Kimani Hamilton added 14 points, four assists, two blocks and two steals, while Howie Fleming and Issac Williamson each chipped in 12 points.

UC Irvine’s comeback attempt was hampered by poor 3-point shooting all night. The Anteaters finished just 3-of-13 from long range. They stayed close by attacking the basket and drawing fouls, making 19-of-25 free throws compared to UNLV’s 6-of-13. Saran’s 18 points were complemented by 14 points and nine rebounds from Harrison Carrington and 13 points from Jurian Dixon.

Despite being out-assisted 15-6 and committing 19 turnovers, UNLV won the efficiency battle. The Rebels scored 75 points on 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 101.1, while UC Irvine managed 72 points on 76 possessions for a 94.9 rating. UNLV’s 53.7% shooting from the field ultimately offset its turnover issues and poor free-throw shooting.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,113, saw UC Irvine close as a 3-point favorite. The total score of 147 fell under the pregame over/under line of 151.