Second Consecutive Loss Leaves Utah State Searching For Answers
Jan 20, 2026, 11:41 PM | Updated: Jan 21, 2026, 2:05 pm
Utah State hosted the UNLV Runnin' Rebels at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday, January 20. (Courtesy USU Athletics, Arpan Bose)
(Courtesy USU Athletics, Arpan Bose)
LOGAN, Utah – UNLV made big plays down the stretch while Utah State couldn’t match the execution, falling 86-76 in its second straight setback.
The Aggies (15-2, 6-1 Mountain West) hosted the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (9-8, 4-2 MW) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday, January 20.
It was USU’s sixth home loss in the past four seasons and Jerrod Calhoun’s third-ever loss at the Spectrum
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Final
UNLV 86 – USU 76
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
Mason Falslev led five Aggies in double-figure scoring. Drake Allen added 10 points, nine assists, and four steals.
Adlan Elamin equaled his previous career high with 15 points. He added four rebounds and two steals in the loss.
First Half
Utah State burst out of the gates to an 11-2 lead, scoring nine points before UNLV got on the scoreboard.
The Aggies then went cold from the field, going without a field goal for more than five minutes.
Can't guard Kolby 🪄#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/Bc7X8GifPS
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
UNLV’s defense did a great job keeping USU off the three-point line early.
MJ Collins Jr. drilled the team’s only shot from deep in the first 13 minutes.
lol where you going?#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/6fPAjmmZtE
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
UNLV fought back to take its first lead heading into the final media timeout. USU trailed 33-30 with 3:38 left.
Utah State led by as many as nine in the half but nursed a 38-38 tie into halftime.
HALF | 🔵🔘
We are all tied up at 38-38 heading to halftime. pic.twitter.com/9yhHEAFRCI
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
Mason Falslev’s nine points led all scorers. Freshman Adlan Elamin added eight points in 15 minutes.
USU and UNLV tied at 38 at the half. pic.twitter.com/3TdHaUR5bJ
— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) January 21, 2026
Second Half
Defense turned to offense early in the half when Drake Allen ripped the basketball away, keying a fast break. Elamin dribbled into the frontcourt before finding Collins Jr. gliding to the basket for a 43-41 lead.
Seconds later, Allen exploited a defensive breakdown for an uncontested two-handed jam.
𝘼𝙄𝙍 𝘿𝙍𝘼𝙆𝙀 🛫#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9CtDerOLn2
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
UNLV’s fifth turnover of the half led to an Elamin dunk to grab a 49-43 lead at the under-fifteen-minute media timeout.
The slam gave him 12 points to lead all scorers, marking the first time in his career he had scored double digits in back-to-back games.
GOODNESS, Adlan 👀#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/7Sq8ndshhH
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
The advantage ballooned to 14 courtesy of a 19-3 Aggie run.
After turning the ball over six times in the first 20 minutes, USU forced six Rebel turnovers to feed the onslaught.
UNLV starters Kimani Hamilton, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, and Howie Fleming Jr. were each whistled for their fourth fouls midway through the period. Hamilton fouled out with 7:28 left.
The shot. The look. The celly. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/R5KdpXLluO
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
UNLV wouldn’t give up.
The Rebels made five shots in a row while forcing USU to miss six of seven looks on the other end. It allowed the visitors to slice the deficit to 62-60 at the under-eight-minute media timeout.
Both programs traded haymakers down the stretch with neither team willing to give an inch.
11:15 PM but the bank is STILL OPEN 💰#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/mPl02V58MM
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 21, 2026
An MJ Collins three sent the game into a break, knotted up at 73 with 3:24 left.
UNLV closed the game on a 13-3 run to earn the 86-76 victory.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
