None of the Mountain West Conference games are going to be easy and Air Force proved that to Nevada on Tuesday night.

The Falcons took Nevada to the wire before the Pack recovered and came away with a 68-62 win in front of 7,430 fans at Lawlor Events Center on Tuesday.

Tre Coleman led Nevada with 18 points and nine rebounds and Kobe Sanders had 11 points as the Wolf Pack improved to 2-0 in the Mountain West, 10-7 overall. Coleman also had four assists and Sanders had five.

The six-point margin at the end was Nevada’s largest lead of the game.

Next, Nevada hosts San Jose State, at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Spartans upset New Mexico, 71-70, on Tuesday.

There were 10 lead changes and seven ties. Air Force led, 60-59, with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left.

Kobe Sanders hit a bucket to give Nevada a 61-60 lead with 2:36 remaining, then Daniel Foster hit a 3-pointer to give the Pack some breathing room.

Ethan Taylor led the Falcons (3-14, 0-6) with 22 points and Kyle Marshall added 12.

Nevada coach Steve Alford said he liked his team’s fight. saying they won the last four minutes of the first half, 12-4 and the last four minutes of the second half, 12-2.

Key Stats

Nevada was dismal from the free throw line, connecting on 10-of-23. including four straight in the final minute.

The Pack missed the front end of four free throws, which Alford said actually made them 10-of-27 from the stripe.

“If we make our foul shots, then this game is a different look,” Alford said. “It’s really an odd deal because we started out the year so well (on free throws) and now we’ve got to be one of the worst fouls shooting teams in the league. It was an ugly game because of our foul shooting.”

Nevada had 30 points in the paint, to 18 for the Falcons.

Nick Davidson was 0-for-5 from the free throw line and he stayed well after the game Tuesday night shooting free throw after free throw. He had nine points and four assists in the game.

Air Force hit 10-of-27 from 3-point rahge and Nevad awas 6-of-014 from the arc.

Daniel Foster

Foster started and played 29 minutes, scoring five points on 2-of-4 from the field.

Alford said Foster does what the coaches want him to do.

“Daniel has a incredibly competitive mind. He wants to win and he knows he can influence wins without scoring. He guards like crazy. He rebounds. He gets loose balls,” Alford said. “And now we’re asking him to play some point (guard) to help Kobe out.”

First Half

Air Force led 35-33 at the break after the Wolf Pack tied it at 33 . The Pack trailed by 11 (31-20) with 5:06 left in the half.

Nevada made just 2-of-8 free throws in the first half, including three misses on front ends of one-and-ones. The Pack was 3-of-9 from the arc. Air Force made 5-of-6 free throws and 6-of-12 from 3-pont range.

The Series

Nevada leads the overall series with Air Force 18-3 and has won five straight in the series.

Up Next

San Jose State plays Nevada at Lawlor Events Center at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Spartans (9-10, 2-5) beat New Mexico 71-70 on Tuesday night.

Nevada’s Remaining Schedule

• Jan. 18, San José State at Nevada, 3 p.m. (TV: KNSN, Radio: 95.5 FM)
• Jan. 22, Nevada at Utah State, 6 p.m. (TV: FS1, Radio: 95.5 FM)
• Jan. 25, Nevada at San Diego State, 7 p.m. (TV: CBS SN, Radio: 95.5 FM)
• Jan. 29, Nevada at Boise State, 7 p.m.
• Feb. 1, UNLV at Nevada, 8 p.m.
• Feb. 4, Nevada at Air Force, 6 p.m.
• Feb. 10, Fresno State at Nevada, 8 p.m.
• Feb. 14, Nevada at San Jose State, 7 p.m.
• Feb. 18, Nevada at Colorado State, 6 p.m.
• Feb. 22, Boise State at Nevada, 3 p.m.
• Feb. 25, Wyoming at Nevada, 7 p.m.
• Feb. 28, Nevada at UNLV, 8 p.m.
• March 4, New Mexico at Nevada, 6 p.m.
• March 8, Nevada at San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Robert Vaihola led San Jose State with 18 points and Latrell Davis hit the game-winning jump shot with 2.1 seconds remaining as the Spartans knocked off New Mexico 71-70 on Tuesday night.

Davis grabbed an offensive rebound and banked in the fade-away putback to cap the scoring.

Vaihola also had nine rebounds for the Spartans (9-10, 2-5 Mountain West Conference). Jermaine Washington scored 13 points while shooting 5 for 10, including 3 for 7 from beyond the arc. Josh Uduje shot 5 for 13, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points, while adding eight rebounds.

Nelly Junior Joseph led the Lobos (14-4, 6-1) in scoring, finishing with 20 points and six rebounds. New Mexico also got 17 points and five assists from Donovan Dent. Mustapha Amzil also had nine points. The Lobos broke a seven-game win streak with the loss.

Davis scored eight points in the first half and San Jose State went into the break trailing 35-31. Vaihola scored 12 second-half points. San Jose State outscored New Mexico by five points over the final half.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.

Joshua Gray is one of the most seasoned offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Oregon State prospect started 56 games during his time in Corvallis, with 44 of those starts coming at left tackle and 12 at left guard.

The battle-tested offensive linemen could be a Day 3 target for the Green Bay Packers and checks in at No. 96 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Gray came to Oregon State as a three-star recruit out of California and earned the starting left tackle job as a redshirt freshman in 2020. Following 44 straight starts at left tackle, Gray kicked inside to left guard for his final season as a Beaver. 

“Not only was Gray the best lineman on the roster for most of his extended stay at Oregon State, but he was also loyal to the program at a time when it needed leadership the most,” Carter Bahns, a reporter for 247sports, said. “When most of the team’s best players entered the transfer portal amid the coaching change and transition out of the traditional Pac-12, Gray returned for one final year and became a multi-year team captain. His blocking ability made him a star, but his intangibles made him an all-time Oregon State great.”

It’s no secret that NFL teams love offensive linemen who can play multiple positions, and the Packers have had a ton of success turning college offensive tackles into all-pro caliber guards. While Gray never took a snap at center during a game, he is listed as center on the Shrine Bowl website and will likely get looks at center, guard and tackle during Shrine Bowl week in Texas.  

“Most of Gray’s career came at the left tackle spot, where he was the most valuable piece of an offensive line that regularly ranked among the nation’s most elite units and Joe Moore Award contenders,” Bahns said. “His NFL projections favored him on the interior, though, so he moved to guard ahead of his final year at Oregon State. The Beavers put a premium on versatility and taught all of their offensive linemen to play multiple positions, and that aided Gray in thriving at the guard spot.”

Gray is a powerful run-blocker, who is aggressive with his hands to initiate contact. He plays with the right about of tenacity to bully defenders. The 56-game starter can move in space and looks nimble as a puller. 

“Run blocking has always been Gray’s forte,” Bahns said. “Oregon State regularly boasted one of the nation’s best-rushing attacks throughout his career. His Pro Football Focus run blocking grade ranked No. 8 in the Pac-12 in 2021 and No. 3 in 2022.”

Gray has seen it all. He is alert in pass protection and keeps his head on a swivel. He’s patient in his pass sets and uses a timely punch to get into the frame of rushers. According to PFF, Gray gave up one sack and 13 pressures while playing his new position at left guard this past season. 

“What Gray lacks in that elite size NFL teams covet in their tackles, he makes up for in sheer athleticism and effort, and that shows in pass protection,” Bahns said. “He was a lockdown pass blocker on the blind side year after year because of his high motor, discipline and explosiveness.”

Fit with the Packers

Green Bay’s depth along the offensive line was tested during their Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. With Jordan Morgan already on injured reserve, the Packers had to first turn to Travis Glover after starting left guard Elgton Jenkins left the game with an injury. After the rookie flamed out, the Packers turned to Kadeem Telfort. 

With Josh Myers headed for free agency, it’s a safe assumption that Brian Gutekunst will target an interior offensive lineman or two this offseason.

Gray likely isn’t somebody you want starting at left tackle on a full-time basis, but he could kick outside in a pinch and potentially offers five-position versatility. 

“Gray is a proven standout at multiple positions along the offensive line, who developed across a six-year career under one of college football’s most accomplished offensive line coaches in Jim Michalczik,” Bahns said. “He is about as refined and experienced as college linemen come. That, plus the fact that he is a model teammate and longtime captain, makes him a complete package who should make an impact early in his pro career.”

Brian Gutekunst has had success finding quality offensive linemen on Day 3 of the draft with picks like Myers, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker Jon Runyan Jr.

With his versatility, experience, run-blocking prowess and football IQ, Gray could be high on Green Bay’s board when Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.