Key Highlights
- Utah State faces UNLV in the Mountain West tournament quarterfinals.
- UNLV swept Utah State during the 2025-26 season, including a 92-65 home win.
- Utah State secured the No. 1 seed and won the conference title this season.
- UNLV’s Josh Pastner praises Utah State but acknowledges the challenge ahead.
Utah State, with a 25-6 overall record, has been in prime form heading into the Mountain West tournament. Despite their impressive regular-season performance and the outright conference championship, they face an uphill battle against UNLV (17-15, 11-9) on Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Background of a Familiar Rivalry
The Aggies have reason to be wary. In the 2025-26 season, UNLV was the only team to sweep Utah State in all three meetings. The most notable of these occurred on January 20 when the Rebels staged an impressive comeback from a 14-point deficit to win 86-76 at the Thomas & Mack Center. That game marked one of Utah State’s worst losses, with a final score of 92-65 in favor of UNLV.
Coaching Perspectives
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun has every reason to be confident despite the history. “They’re really a high-level group,” he says of UNLV, acknowledging their formidable nature. However, UNLV’s Josh Pastner offers a more cautious outlook: “We’re going to have to play our best game of the season if we want to have an opportunity to win the game.”
Key Players and Defensive Challenges
The matchup between Utah State’s guard duo Kolby King (7) and Mason Falslev against UNLV is crucial. Falslev, currently second in scoring with 15.9 points per game, will face a physical challenge from UNLV’s standout senior forward Kimani Hamilton.
Defensive Strategy
“I think it’s going to start and end with our defense,” Calhoun says. “We have to have the ability to keep guys in front and keep them out of the paint.” Hamilton, known for his inside presence and efficient scoring (23 points on 10-14 shooting), will be key for UNLV.
Recent Performances and Awards
In their last game before the tournament, Utah State narrowly beat New Mexico 94-90. This victory not only secured the conference title but also saw junior guard Mason Falslev named Mountain West Player of the Year, while Calhoun was honored as the MW Steve Fisher Coach of the Year.
Utah State is currently ranked 29th in the NET rankings and 36th in KenPom.com ratings. They appear to be a lock for an NCAA tournament bid but will aim for a better seeding by defeating UNLV on Thursday. The winner will face Grand Canyon (20-11) or Nevada (21-11) in Friday’s quarterfinals.
The contest not only holds personal and professional stakes for both teams but also represents the culmination of a challenging season for Utah State, where they’ve had to overcome their own demons while celebrating individual accolades.
