UNLV Opens 2026-27 Season Against Northern Arizona
Coach Josh Pastner begins his second year with a roster rebuilt around 10 transfers after a missed NCAA Tournament.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
UNLV opens its 2026-27 basketball season Monday, November 2026, against Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. The Runnin' Rebels finished 18-17 last season and have not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2013.
Why it matters
The Rebels need to stay healthy and get past conference contenders Grand Canyon and New Mexico to reach the tournament, after failing to stay healthy last season. The opener offers the first look at how the newly assembled roster performs for Pastner in his second year.
UNLV finished 18-17 last season and has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013. Sophomore Tyrin Jones averaged 12 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks, and the team's ability to replace its lineup depth remains untested.
The players
Josh Pastner
Pastner is the head men's basketball coach at UNLV, entering his second season leading the Runnin' Rebels after a rebuild built largely through the transfer portal.
Sebastian Mack
Mack is a transfer guard from Missouri who scored 25 points in UNLV's October exhibition against Utah and is expected to play a key role this season.
Tyrin Jones
Jones is a UNLV sophomore forward who averaged 12 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season and returns as a central frontcourt piece.
Cam Miles
Miles is a transfer from Florida State who joins UNLV as one of the 10 newcomers Pastner added to rebuild the roster this offseason.
The details
Coach Josh Pastner brought in 10 transfers, including Sebastian Mack from Missouri and Cam Miles from Florida State, to rebuild the roster. Mack scored 25 points in an October exhibition against Utah, offering an early signal of the new group's scoring potential.
Timeline
The 2025-26 season ended with UNLV at 18-17 and out of the NCAA Tournament.
Sebastian Mack scored 25 points against Utah in an October 2026 exhibition.
UNLV opens the 2026-27 season against Northern Arizona on Monday, November 2026, at 7 p.m.
Season Trajectory
UNLV has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013, and its 18-17 finish last season extended that drought. The 2026-27 opener tests whether Pastner's transfer-heavy rebuild can change the program's trajectory and put the Rebels in contention with conference contenders Grand Canyon and New Mexico.
The season opener is a first look at whether the 10 new transfers can produce the depth UNLV lacked last year. Fans tracking the team should watch how quickly the roster stays healthy, since availability was the program's biggest problem in 2025-26.
The takeaway
A transfer-driven rebuild only pays off if it translates into wins and health over a full season. The 2026-27 opener is the first measurable step toward judging whether UNLV can return to the NCAA Tournament.
Further reading
For more on the team's history and roster moves, see Basketball coverage across Las Vegas.
