Non-conference slate to ready UNLV basketball for Mountain West

Josh Pastner wanted his UNLV basketball team’s non-conference schedule to prepare the Rebels for a new-look Mountain West. It looks to do that.

And those are just the exhibition games.

UNLV released its full schedule Tuesday, including 15 non-league matchups and 18 within conference.

“We have put together a very challenging schedule with a lot of quality teams, and that’s exactly what we want for our program,” said Pastner, entering his second season as coach. “Our non-conference slate will test us in a number of different ways and prepare us for (a conference) that we know will be extremely competitive.

“Having 20 opportunities to play at home, including our exhibition games, is also extremely important for our program. We want the Thomas & Mack Center to be a place where our fans create a tremendous home-court advantage, and we’re excited to play so many games in front of them this season.”

UNLV could face as many as eight teams that made the postseason last year, including four that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Some of UNLV’s biggest games are actually away from its home floor, including against Kansas in the Players Era Eight at Michelob Ultra Arena on Nov. 17. UNLV’s second game of the event will come against either West Virginia or Auburn. A third would be against Houston, Rutgers, Florida or Notre Dame.

The Rebels also travel to former Mountain West member San Diego State on Dec. 5 and play neutral site games against Washington State (Lee’s Family Forum on Dec. 12) and SMU (in Phoenix on Dec. 19).

Fact: The Rebels will be well prepared to begin the season.

Pastner secured exhibition home games against two Big 12 opponents — Utah (Oct. 7) and BYU (Oct. 24) — as well as Missouri from the SEC on Oct. 29.

The Rebels begin conference play at Grand Canyon on Jan. 5.

The league home opener falls against New Mexico on Jan. 12.

2026-27 UNLV men's basketball schedule

Oct. 7 vs. Utah (exhibition)

Oct. 24 vs. BYU (exhibition)

Oct. 29 vs. Missouri (exhibition)

(Non-conference play)

Nov. 3 vs. Northern Arizona

Nov. 7 vs. Samford

Nov. 13 vs. Stanford

Nov. 17 vs. Kansas (Players Era Eight at Michelob ULTRA Arena)

Nov. 18 vs. TBD (Players Era Eight)

Nov. 19 vs. TBD (Players Era Eight)

Nov. 23 vs. Eastern Washington

Nov. 28 vs. UTRVG

Dec. 2 at San Francisco

Dec. 5 at San Diego State

Dec. 12 vs. Washington State (Lee's Family Forum)

Dec. 19 vs. SMU (Phoenix)

Dec. 22 vs. Cal Poly

Dec. 29 vs. Westminster

Jan. 2 vs. North Dakota

(Mountain West play)

Jan. 5 at Grand Canyon

Jan. 9 at San Jose State

Jan. 12 vs. New Mexico

Jan. 16 vs. Texas-El Paso

Jan. 19 at UC Davis

Jan. 23 vs. Hawaii

Jan. 26 at Wyoming

Jan. 30 vs. UNR

Feb. 2 at Air Force

Feb. 6 vs. San Jose State

Feb. 8 vs. Wyoming

Feb. 13 at New Mexico

Feb. 16 at Texas-El Paso

Feb. 20 vs. Grand Canyon

Feb. 23 vs. Air Force

Feb. 27 at UNR

Mar. 2 vs. UC Davis

Mar. 6 at Hawaii