IRVINE, Calif. — UNLV built an 18-point first-half lead, saw it shrink to a one-possession game, and still found a way to win Tuesday night. The Rebels defeated UC Irvine 75-72 in the first round of the NIT, improving to 18-16 under first-year coach Josh Pastner.

Five UNLV players scored in double figures, led by Kimani Hamilton’s 14 points, four steals and two blocks. Howie Fleming Jr. added 12 points and nine rebounds despite tweaking an ankle early in the second half. Tyrin Jones came off the bench for 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, including three second-half dunks that helped stem UC Irvine’s momentum.

The Anteaters (23-12), winners of eight of the past 13 Big West regular-season titles, cut the deficit to one possession in the final minutes. But with eight seconds left, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn — playing with four fouls — blocked Jurian Dixon’s potential tying 3-pointer to seal the win.

“Pastner, he recruits dawgs,” Fleming said. “But the majority of us on the team … people looked over us. They thought we weren’t going to be able to play on a certain level. This program’s really all about business. We’re trying to get it done.”

UNLV shot 53.7% from the field against a UC Irvine defense that ranks among the nation’s best. The Rebels also blocked 11 shots, turning the tables on a program known for its own shot-blocking.

“UNLV was outstanding,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said. “I thought they were really, really ready. Really competitive. I give credit to Coach Pastner and his staff and those guys.”

Pastner, who built his first UNLV roster largely through the transfer portal, said the win was especially meaningful in Southern California, a key recruiting area. The Rebels next face No. 1-seeded Tulsa on Sunday in the NIT second round.

“We want to get UNLV Runnin’ Rebel basketball back to being one of the premier programs on the West Coast,” Pastner said. “That’s what we want, and we can’t do that being cool, casual or cute or fancy. We’ve got to have toughness and grit and the mentality about that. We have tough guys, fighters.”