The 2025-26 UNLV men’s basketball team was plagued by injuries during coach Josh Pastner’s first season, losing five players.
That doesn’t even include UNLV forward Tyrin Jones, one of the Rebels’ most consistent starters who dealt with an ongoing injury while averaging 11.9 points and five rebounds a game.
Now, as UNLV prepares to host BYU in its second exhibition game Saturday, the Rebels are again facing questions about their roster. Several players who missed the team’s exhibition opener against Utah also will be unavailable against the Cougars.
“Kevin Young at BYU is a great coach. (The Cougars) are a great program, great staff and great players,” Pastner said. “We will really be tested because obviously we’re shorthanded. It will be a good opportunity for us to kind of see where we are at.”
Pastner confirmed that Jones, Tyler Harris, Issac Williamson and Terrance Ford Jr., known as T-Baby, will be out against BYU. AJ Storr remains ineligible, while MJ Thomas is a game-time decision.
Jones tore his labrum and dislocated his shoulder 14 months ago but elected to play through the injury during his freshman season before undergoing surgery this past offseason. He has been rehabbing since and was cleared for contact Oct. 1.
Of the eight players confirmed available for the Runnin’ Rebels, seven are on scholarship, while walk-on Jalen Cunningham rounds out the group.
UNLV is still awaiting a ruling that could allow Storr, a 6-foot-5 senior, to play after he was ruled ineligible following a federal appeals court stay that halted a Tennessee court injunction related to his transfer to the program.
“We’re still working on the update from AJ (Storr),” Pastner said. “The Wisne case in Colorado has not been officially ruled on yet, but I think that is still going to favor the NCAA, not the players.
“The state of Tennessee is out for AJ, so per that he’s got one move to make to another state, and so he is working on that with his lawyer to determine the best situation. We’ve got to rely on his counsel to make that decision of what they think is best.”
BYU also has a player in a similar eligibility situation in forward Jaxon Kohler, who has been deemed eligible to play during the 2026 season through the Glancey case in California.
Pastner hopes the Rebels can get healthier before the regular season begins, with the team scheduled to play Missouri on Thursday in its final exhibition game. The regular season opens Nov. 3, when UNLV hosts Northern Arizona.
“One of our key things is we have to get healthy, and we’re going to get there. Hopefully by Missouri we’re getting more healthy and more guys are ready to go. That is kind of where we are at,” Pastner said.
The exhibition vs. Missouri will cap a three-game preseason schedule against Power Four opponents. Pastner hopes the high-profile matchups will draw more fans to the Thomas & Mack Center to support the program.
“We’ve got Big 12, Big 12 and SEC and two of them are in the preseason top 25,” Pastner said. “People have asked for that … for the fanbases I get it.
“They like the names of the Power 4 teams and I went out and did that, so I am hoping that people buy season tickets … we need them in the arena.”
Contact Donovan Hicks at dhicks@reviewjournal.com. Follow @HicksSports on X.
Up next
Who: UNLV vs BYU
When: Saturday 1 p.m. PT
Where: Thomas & Mack Center
TV: MW+ (Mountain West Network)
Radio: KWWN (1100 AM 100.9 FM)
