Much of the Rebels' most recent success came under Lon Kruger, who was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. He went 161-71 while coaching UNLV from 2004-11, taking the Rebels to the NCAA Tournament four times in his final five years.

UNLV’s season-ending 70-58 loss to Utah State on Thursday seemed to carry more weight than a typical farewell game. The Scarlet and Gray battled despite an injury-shortened rotation, but as Utah State pulled away the bigger picture came into focus.