UNLV Basketball Loses Third Straight, Falls 76-71 to Utah State

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels faced a challenging 76-71 defeat against Utah State in Logan, marking their third straight loss in Mountain West play. Despite trailing by 16 points in the first half, UNLV managed to tie the game at 56 with a significant contribution from Dedan Thomas Jr., who scored 22 points. Utah State's home-court advantage played a crucial role, with nearly 10,000 fans creating an intense atmosphere that helped the Aggies maintain their lead. Key plays from Utah State, including a decisive three-pointer by Deyton Albury, secured their victory and kept them tied for the top spot in the conference standings. Both teams had previously met two weeks ago, with UNLV emerging victorious, but Utah State avenged that loss with a determined performance. Head coach Kevin Kruger acknowledged the difficulty of the venue and expressed pride in his team's resilience despite the loss.