Box Score LAS VEGAS — Rutgers flipped a six-point halftime deficit into one of its most complete performances of the season Thursday afternoon, outscoring UNLV by 21 in the second half to earn an 80–65 win at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
The Scarlet Knights (5–3) erupted for 47 second-half points, shooting 47.8 percent from the field and going 22-of-27 from the free-throw line after halftime to take control. Rutgers' defense tightened as well, holding the Rebels (3–5) to just 26 points after the break.
Junior center Emmanuel Ogbole powered the interior, finishing with career-highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. The junior center controlled the glass on both ends, grabbing 11 defensive rebounds and posting six offensive boards.
Sophomore forward Dylan Grant delivered one of the best all-around games of his season with 17 points, eight rebounds, and a team-best +19 plus/minus. He went 5-of-6 at the line in the second half and buried a key three-pointer to spark Rutgers' 11–0 run early in the period.
Off the bench, junior guard Darren Buchanan Jr. provided a major lift with 15 points, including a pair of threes and several strong finishes in transition. Tariq Francis added 11 points, while Jamichael Davis posted six assists and helped ignite the second-half tempo shift.
Rutgers flipped the script on the boards as well, finishing with a 45–33 rebounding edge, including 16 second-chance points compared to UNLV's seven.
UNLV was led by Kimani Hamilton's 13 points, while Tyrin Jones and Al Green each added 13. The Rebels shot just 1-of-7 from three in the second half and 10-of-28 overall after halftime.
After trailing 39–33 at the break, Rutgers opened the second half on a 14–2 run, fueled by stops, turnovers and transition opportunities. The Scarlet Knights built their largest lead at 15 with 7:13 remaining and never allowed UNLV to get back within single digits.
Rutgers returns home at 5–3, closing its Las Vegas trip with an emphatic statement win and its most efficient offensive half of the young season.
Gallery: (11-27-2025) Rutgers MBB vs. UNLV
Up Next
Rutgers returns home for the Big Ten opener next Tuesday. The Scarlet Knights host No. 1 Purdue on December 2 at 8 pm, a FS1 game. The Boilermakers are 6-0 including ranked wins over No. 8 Alabama and No. 15 Texas Tech and will play Eastern Illinois on Black Friday prior to the trip to New Jersey. Following the Purdue game, RU is away from home for the next two games, facing No. 7/6 Michigan (Dec. 6) and Seton Hall (Dec. 13).
Postgame Notes
- Emmanuel Ogbole had a career-high 21 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
- 15 points in the first half was the highest-scoring half of Emmanuel Ogbole's career.
- Darren Buchanan Jr. had his best scoring half of the season with 15 points in the second half
- Rutgers tied its series with UNLV 2-2.
- RU's first win over a current Mountain West Conference team since January 19, 1993, a 113-93 win over Utah State
Postgame Quotes
Head coach Steve Pikiell
On Emmanuel Ogbole:
"He was fantastic from the start. He worked his tail off. I got after him big-time after last game and he never flinched. He was absolutely outstanding."
On Chris Nwuli:
"He gives us great energy. We've got to get him to not turn the basketball over, but I thought today at home (Nwuli is from the area) he would play his tail off. He gave us great energy. Denis (Badalau) struggled all weekend and we went with the hot hand, and he gave us great minutes."
On the message at halftime:
"I told our guys, get your heads to the rim and into the paint, and they listened. Proud of these guys. This hasn't been an easy trip, let me tell you. To get 80 points and to hold the other guys to 65 is a good sign for us moving forward."
