The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels begin their postseason journey Tuesday night when they face the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The game is set for 8 p.m. at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California, and will be televised on ESPNU.

Streaming options include the ESPN app and any subscription service that carries ESPNU, such as Fubo.

Betting odds

UC Irvine enters as a slight favorite, with sportsbooks listing the Anteaters as 1.5- to 2.5-point favorites. The over/under is approximately 152–153.5 points. On the moneyline, UC Irvine is around -120 to -135, while UNLV sits at about +110.

Matchup preview

UNLV brings a potent offense averaging 79.4 points per game, but they face a stout UC Irvine defense that allows just 68.4 points per contest. The Anteaters (23-11) also hold a rebounding advantage, pulling down 37.2 boards per game, led by forward Kyle Evans. KenPom-style metrics highlight the contrast: UNLV’s offense ranks highly nationally, while UC Irvine’s defense is among the nation’s best.

The winner advances to the second round later this week.