BYU trailed by as much as 12 points in the first half but found its rhythm in the second, pulling away for a 89-77 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center in an exhibition game on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars outscored the Rebels 48-35 and make a strong push in a five-minute stretch to get some distance on the home team.

Collin Chandler scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the second half, adding four rebounds and five assists. Jaxon Kohler had 19 points, including 3 of 7 from the 3-point line and junior guard Rob Wright III also netting 19. Freshman Bruce Branch III had 14 points, eight assists and four rebounds as BYU went 2-0 in exhibition play.

Sebastian Mack scored 26 for UNLV but didn’t score after 9:37 in the second half.

The Rebels shot 53% from the field and made 5 of 8 3-pointers in the first half, leading 32-22 with 8:02 to play on a 3-point from Mack.

Mack drove in for a layup at the 3:05 mark to give the Rebels a 42-30 advantage, but BYU closed the half on an 11-0 run, getting eight points from Wright to close to 42-41 at the break.

With just under eight minutes to play, Wright sailed in for a 3-point play to give the Cougars a 66-64 lead, keying an 18-5 run. Chandler converted a 4-point play (a 3-pointer and a free throws) and Branch – celebrating his 18th birthday – powered in for a 3-point play to give BYU a 86-73 lead with 2:22 left.

The Cougars finished 10 of 30 (33%) from the 3-point line and was outrebouded by the Rebels 41-34. BYU countered with nine steals and good balance on the offensive end.

The Cougars open the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2 against Ohio State at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.