LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Sebastian Mack scored 31 points and UNLV used a decisive second-half run to beat Northern Arizona 89-77 on Tuesday night in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin’ Rebels improved to 1-0, while the Lumberjacks fell to 0-1 before an announced attendance of 5,109. UNLV trailed at halftime but took control after the break, turning a tied game into a comfortable lead with a burst of scoring from Mack, Cam Miles and Jeremy Foumena. Northern Arizona stayed within reach early behind Chris Komin, but UNLV’s pressure and rebounding advantage wore down the visiting Lumberjacks in the second half.

Mack was UNLV’s top star, finishing with 31 points, two rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. The 6-foot-4 guard made layups, 3-pointers and free throws while serving as the Runnin’ Rebels’ primary scoring option. Cam Miles added 15 points, two rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 37 minutes. Jeremy Foumena posted 13 points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes, and Tyrin Jones had 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes. Dontrez Williams added 12 points, one rebound and two assists in 23 minutes. Foumena, a 6-foot-11 center, controlled the paint, while Jones and Miles made key plays on both ends as UNLV pulled away.

Chris Komin led Northern Arizona with 24 points, three rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. The 6-foot-3 guard from Cypress, Calif., hit several key 3-pointers and helped the Lumberjacks stay competitive. Lucas Toukam added 16 points, five rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes, while Ryan Abelman scored 12 points and grabbed two rebounds in 22 minutes. Tamiel Green finished with eight points, six rebounds, one assist and one block in 24 minutes. Cade Bennett had three points, two rebounds and one block in 13 minutes. Northern Arizona shot well from the floor and from beyond the arc, but UNLV’s edge on the offensive glass and at the free-throw line helped separate the teams.

Northern Arizona shot 25 of 48 from the field, 11 of 23 from 3-point range and 16 of 24 from the free-throw line. UNLV shot 29 of 61 overall, 8 of 21 from three and 23 of 32 from the line. The Runnin’ Rebels had a 17-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, an 11-3 edge in assists and a 5-2 edge in blocks. Northern Arizona committed 16 turnovers and 25 fouls, while UNLV committed 10 turnovers and 21 fouls. UNLV scored 89 points on 69 possessions for an offensive rating of 128.6. Northern Arizona scored 77 points on 68 possessions for an offensive rating of 112.6.

UNLV opened the scoring on Foumena’s hook shot 39 seconds into the game, but Toukam answered with a dunk for Northern Arizona. The teams traded early baskets, with Mack making a layup and a free throw, Cam Miles making two free throws and Dontrez Williams adding a layup as UNLV moved ahead. Northern Arizona responded behind Mason Dorsey’s layup and 3-pointers from Abelman, Dylan Anderson and Komin. Komin’s 3-pointer gave the Lumberjacks an 18-17 lead, and he later made three free throws and another 3-pointer to help Northern Arizona build a 31-23 advantage. Toukam’s layups and a 3-pointer, along with Green’s free throws and a three-point play, kept the Lumberjacks in front. UNLV closed the half with Mack’s 3-pointer and Williams’ layup, but Northern Arizona held the lead at the break.

UNLV began the second half with a free throw from Foumena and a layup from Williams to trim the deficit. Max Majerle made a layup for Northern Arizona, but Foumena answered with a dunk. Toukam made a free throw, Mack tied the score at 50 with a layup, and the teams traded baskets over the next several minutes. Toukam dunked, Cam Miles made a free throw, and Mack made two free throws to tie it at 52. Cam Miles’ dunk gave UNLV a 54-52 lead, but Cade Bennett made a 3-pointer for Northern Arizona and Mack answered with a 3-pointer. Mj Thomas made a hook shot, Toukam made a layup, and Green converted a layup and free throw to put Northern Arizona ahead 60-59. Kota Suttle made a 3-pointer for UNLV, and Komin’s jumper tied the score at 62.

The game turned from there when UNLV delivered the decisive stretch. Cam Miles made a layup, Foumena followed with a dunk and Miles connected on a 3-pointer to give UNLV a 69-62 lead. Northern Arizona briefly answered with Toukam’s dunk, but Mack hit a 3-pointer and Cam Miles made two free throws to extend the margin. After Abelman made a 3-pointer for the Lumberjacks, Tyrin Jones made two free throws, Mack made another 3-pointer and Jones added a layup to cap a 19-5 run that put UNLV ahead 81-67. The burst gave the Runnin’ Rebels enough cushion to close out the win despite late free throws and a 3-pointer from Komin.

Northern Arizona did not go away quietly. Komin made a 3-pointer with 4:51 remaining, and Abelman made free throws in the final minute. Foumena answered with dunks and a tip-in layup, and Mack added a late layup to keep UNLV in control. Komin made one free throw with 4.3 seconds left to provide the final margin. The Lumberjacks finished with a strong shooting performance but could not overcome UNLV’s second-half surge and rebounding advantage. UNLV’s bench and interior play helped secure the home victory.

UNLV’s upcoming schedule includes Samford on Nov. 7, Stanford on Nov. 13, Kansas on Nov. 17, Auburn on Nov. 18, Eastern Washington on Nov. 23, Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 28, San Francisco on Dec. 2, San Diego State on Dec. 5, Washington State on Dec. 12 and SMU on Dec. 19. Northern Arizona next faces New Mexico on Nov. 7, Arizona on Nov. 10, Kentucky on Nov. 13, Embry-Riddle on Nov. 17, Cal Poly on Nov. 21, Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 28, Montana on Dec. 3, Montana State on Dec. 5, Nelson on Dec. 10 and Justice U. on Dec. 14.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UNLV 85, Northern Arizona 76. Interstat’s ELO system had projected UNLV with a 98 percent probability to win. UNLV had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 20.5. The total of 166 went over the over/under line of 153.5.