UNLV Beats Samford 88-79 in Opener
Cam Miles led UNLV with 20 points as the Rebels improved to 2-0 in men's college basketball.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
UNLV defeated Samford 88-79 in Las Vegas on November 7, 2026. Cam Miles scored 20 points for the Rebels, and the team led 45-40 at halftime.
Why it matters
The win moves UNLV to 2-0 early in the season while Samford drops to 1-1. Early-season results help set the tone for the Rebels' schedule ahead.
Miles went 8 of 8 from the free-throw line and Tyrin Jones shot 7 of 10 from the stripe, with Sebastian Mack adding 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Samford's Cooper Noard matched Miles with 20 points and three steals.
The players
UNLV Rebels
The men's basketball program of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, competing in NCAA Division I.
Samford Bulldogs
The men's basketball program of Samford University, based in Birmingham, Alabama, competing in NCAA Division I.
The details
UNLV led Samford 45-40 at halftime and Miles scored 11 points after the break for the Rebels. Cade Norris and Will Shaver contributed 17 and 14 points, respectively, for Samford, which fell to 1-1 on the season.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: UNLV defeats Samford 88-79 in Las Vegas.
Friday: UNLV hosts Stanford and Samford hosts Wright State.
Season Trajectory
Early-season results in NCAA Division I men's basketball are often used to gauge which programs start strong heading into conference play. UNLV's 2-0 start and Samford's 1-1 record place both teams in the early standings that shape the first weeks of the season.
UNLV's 2-0 start gives the Rebels an early winning record heading into Friday's home game against Stanford. Samford's 1-1 mark puts it in the same early-season position it occupied before this result.
The takeaway
Early wins help teams build momentum, but the first few weeks are still a small sample. UNLV's shooting from the line and three-point range offered a clear look at what the Rebels can rely on as the schedule continues.
What happens next
UNLV hosts Stanford on Friday, and Samford hosts Wright State the same day.
Further reading
For more on the local team, see Basketball coverage for Las Vegas.
