Aztecs Defeat Rebels in Strong Performance
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Thomas & Mack Center
San Diego State Aztecs 82, UNLV Rebels 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won San Diego State Aztecs vs UNLV Rebels?
San Diego State Aztecs beat UNLV Rebels 82-71 at Thomas & Mack Center on January 24, 2026.
Who was favored in San Diego State Aztecs vs UNLV Rebels?
San Diego State Aztecs were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -185 (about 65% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the San Diego State Aztecs triumphed over the UNLV Rebels with a final score of 82-71 at the Thomas & Mack Center. This victory marks a continuation of the Aztecs' strong season, improving their record to 15-5, while the Rebels fall to 10-10. The Aztecs had been favored in the betting market, with DraftKings setting the spread at 3.5 points in their favor. The total for the game was set at 149.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair.
Both teams entered this game with contrasting recent form. The Rebels had shown resilience with a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, currently riding a three-game winning streak. They averaged 75.4 points scored per game while allowing 68.6 points. Their recent victories included a notable 86-76 win against the Utah State Aggies just days before this matchup. At home, they had a solid record of 4-1 in their last five games, indicating a strong performance in familiar territory.
On the other hand, the Aztecs had also been performing well, boasting an 8-2 record in their last ten games. However, they entered this game on a one-game losing streak after a narrow 69-70 defeat to the Grand Canyon Lopes. San Diego State averaged 80.8 points scored and allowed 68.6 points during this stretch, showcasing their offensive capabilities. Their away record stood at 3-2, which reflects a competitive edge despite the challenges of playing outside their home arena.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Aztecs had previously bested the Rebels in both of their last meetings during the 2025 season, winning 74-67 and 76-68. This history likely provided the Aztecs with additional confidence heading into this game.
Injury reports indicated that both teams were relatively healthy, which is crucial for maintaining their competitive edge. The absence of key players can often shift the dynamics of a game, but both squads appeared to be at full strength for this encounter.
The game conditions were typical for a January evening in Las Vegas, with a lively crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fans were treated to an exciting contest, and the atmosphere was electric as both teams battled for supremacy.
As the game unfolded, the Aztecs demonstrated their offensive prowess, with significant contributions from players like Miles Heide and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who made crucial plays in the second half. Heide's free throws and Gibbs-Lawhorn's layups helped maintain the Aztecs' lead as they pulled away in the final moments of the game.
For viewers, the key takeaways from this fixture included the Aztecs' ability to execute under pressure and their effective scoring strategy, which proved decisive against the Rebels. The Rebels, despite their loss, showed flashes of competitiveness and resilience, particularly through Gibbs-Lawhorn's efforts in the latter stages of the game.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the strengths of both teams, with the Aztecs solidifying their position in the league standings while the Rebels look to regroup and build on their recent successes.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SDSU -3.5 | 149.5 o -110 / u -110 | San Diego State Aztecs -185 · UNLV Rebels +154 |
Leaders
- PointsDra Gibbs-Lawhorn27UNLV Rebels
- AssistsAl Green3UNLV Rebels
- ReboundsEmmanuel Stephen7UNLV Rebels
- PointsMiles Byrd23San Diego State Aztecs
- AssistsMiles Byrd5San Diego State Aztecs
- ReboundsReese Dixon-Waters7San Diego State Aztecs
Recent form
UNLV Rebels
Last 10: 7-3Streak W375.4 scored · 68.6 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W86-76at Utah State AggiesJan 21
- W76-62at San José State SpartansJan 17
- W89-85vs Boise State BroncosJan 14
- L62-70at Colorado State RamsJan 10
- L66-98at Wyoming CowboysJan 7
- W67-39vs Air Force FalconsJan 3
- W89-47vs La Sierra Golden EaglesDec 30
- W84-72vs Fresno State BulldogsDec 21
- L60-63vs Tennessee State TigersDec 14
- W75-74at Stanford CardinalDec 7
San Diego State Aztecs
Last 10: 8-2Streak L180.8 scored · 68.6 allowed per game3-2 away
- L69-70at Grand Canyon LopesJan 22
- W83-79vs New Mexico LobosJan 18
- W74-57at Wyoming CowboysJan 15
- W71-52vs Fresno State BulldogsJan 11
- W73-68at Nevada Wolf PackJan 7
- W110-107vs Boise State BroncosJan 4
- W81-68at San José State SpartansDec 31
- W121-59vs Whittier PoetsDec 22
- L45-68at Arizona WildcatsDec 21
- W81-58vs Air Force FalconsDec 18
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State | 29-7 | - | 15-5 |
| San Diego State | 22-11 | 1 | 14-6 |
| New Mexico | 26-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Grand Canyon | 20-12 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Nevada | 24-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Boise State | 20-12 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Colorado State | 21-13 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UNLV | 18-17 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Wyoming | 18-15 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Fresno State | 13-19 | 8 | 7-13 |
| San José State | 9-24 | 12 | 3-17 |
| Air Force | 3-29 | 15 | 0-20 |
Box score
| Stat | San Diego State Aztecs | UNLV Rebels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-46 | 26-51 |
| Field goal % | 57 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 8-13 | 7-21 |
| Three-point % | 62 | 33 |
| Free throws | 22-26 | 12-22 |
| Free throw % | 85 | 55 |
| Rebounds | 25 | 25 |
| Offensive rebounds | 3 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 18 |
| Assists | 18 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 17 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 36 |
| Fouls | 17 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 16 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 59 | 29 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half46-42Reese Dixon-Waters makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-44Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes layup
- 2nd Half48-44Miles Byrd makes layup
- 2nd Half48-45Kimani Hamilton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-46Kimani Hamilton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-46Taj DeGourville makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half52-46Tae Simmons makes layup (Taj DeGourville assists)
- 2nd Half52-48Emmanuel Stephen makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half54-48Pharaoh Compton makes layup (Sean Newman Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half54-49Tyrin Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-49Sean Newman Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half57-49Sean Newman Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half57-50Tyrin Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-50Taj DeGourville makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-52Tyrin Jones makes layup
- 2nd Half62-52Miles Heide makes layup (Taj DeGourville assists)
- 2nd Half62-53Kimani Hamilton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-54Kimani Hamilton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-54Taj DeGourville makes 11-foot jumper (Sean Newman Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half65-54Miles Heide makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-56Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes layup
- 2nd Half65-58Tyrin Jones makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half68-58Miles Byrd makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half68-59Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-59Pharaoh Compton makes 1-foot dunk (Reese Dixon-Waters assists)
- 2nd Half71-59Miles Byrd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-59Miles Byrd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-61Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes layup
- 2nd Half74-61Tae Simmons makes layup (Miles Byrd assists)
- 2nd Half75-61Reese Dixon-Waters makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-61Miles Heide makes 2-foot dunk (Miles Byrd assists)
- 2nd Half77-64Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes 27-foot three point jumper (Tyrin Jones assists)
- 2nd Half78-64Miles Heide makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-64Miles Heide makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-66Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes layup
- 2nd Half80-66Taj DeGourville makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-67Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-67Sean Newman Jr. makes layup (Miles Byrd assists)
- 2nd Half82-69Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes layup
- 2nd Half82-71Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes 13-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours UNLV Rebels, below favours San Diego State Aztecs.
Venue
- Thomas & Mack CenterLas Vegas, NV
- Attendance7217
- OfficialsScott Brown, Edwin Young, Andy O'Brien
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond