Pharrel Payne, Maryland push past challenge from UNLV

Field Level Media|published: Tue 25th November, 02:52 2025

NCAA Basketball: Players Era Championship-UNLV at Maryland

Nov 24, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Pharrel Payne (21) controls the ball against UNLV Rebels guard Issac Williamson (12) during the first half in a 2025 Players Era Festival group play game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Pharrel Payne recorded 20 points and eight rebounds and Maryland excelled over the final 13 minutes en route to a 74-67 victory over UNLV on Monday night in the Players Era men's tournament at Las Vegas.

Darius Adams added 15 points for the Terrapins (5-1), who scored 47 second-half points. David Coit made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points for Maryland.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn put up 17 points and Kimami Hamilton added 11 before fouling out for UNLV (3-3).

The Rebels shot 36.7% from the field, including 8 of 29 (29.6%) from 3-point range. Howie Fleming Jr. had five steals for UNLV.

Maryland connected on 42.4% of its attempts and was 9 of 31 (29%) from behind the arc. The Terrapins held a 46-34 rebounding edge.

Coit drained two key late 3-pointers but shot just 3 of 11 for the Terrapins. He scored a career-high 41 points on Wednesday -- tying for third most in program history -- in a 95-90 overtime victory over Mount St. Mary's.

Maryland will play No. 12 Gonzaga on Tuesday, while UNLV faces No. 8 Alabama.

The Rebels led by three at the break and stretched the margin to 43-36 on a 3-pointer by Gibbs-Lawhorn with 16:28 left in the game.

Maryland later received 3-pointers from Myles Rice and Andre Mills during a 10-2 run to take its first second-half lead at 51-49 with 10:14 remaining.

Payne's layup gave the Terrapins a 58-53 advantage with 6:50 to play, and the lead was eight before UNLV's Al Green sank a trey. Walter Brown added two free throws to bring the Rebels within 61-58 with 3:30 to play.

Coit later knocked down a trey to give Maryland a four-point lead with 2:51 left. A short time later, Payne's putback made it 67-59 with 2:18 remaining. Coit buried another 3-pointer to make it an 11-point margin with 1:43 remaining, and the Terrapins closed it out.

UNLV led 30-27 at halftime despite 30% shooting from the field. The Terrapins also struggled, making 35.5% before the break.

The Rebels led 28-20 after a basket by Williamson capped a 9-0 spurt. Maryland finished the half with a 7-2 push, and Rice's trey cut the Terrapins' deficit to three.

--Field Level Media