[NEVADA ATHLETICS RELEASE]
Jarod Lucas exploded for a career-high 28 factors on 7-10 taking pictures from the sphere, 3-5 from behind the arc, and 11-12 on the free throw line; Will Baker poured in 16 factors of his personal; and, Kenan Blackshear chipped in 14, because the College of Nevada Males’s Basketball workforce took down Air Power 75-69, transferring to 2-0 in Mountain West play.
The win additionally marks Nevada’s twelfth victory of the season, as they now maintain an general document of 12-3 this yr.
The Pack had an environment friendly outing on the offensive finish of the court docket, ending the sport with taking pictures clips of 45.1 p.c from the sphere, 42.9 p.c from three, and 88.5 p.c from the free throw line.
Nevada pulled down 34 rebounds to Air Power’s 26, and 9 of the Pack’s boards have been on the offensive glass, marking their second-most offensive rebounds in a contest this season.
Lucas was sensational on the offensive finish of the ground all through the sport, surpassing his earlier career-high of 27 factors after taking pictures 70 p.c from the sphere, 60 p.c from behind the arc, and 92 p.c from the free throw line. Lucas completed the competition with a game-high plus/minus of +12, and he has now reached double figures in 14 of Nevada’s 15 video games this season and has made at the very least three 3-pointers in 9 contests.
Baker was dominant on offense all sport, scoring within the paint at will all through the competition. He completed the sport with 16 factors on 7-13 taking pictures from the sphere and 2-2 from the free throw line, whereas additionally knocking down a game-high eight rebounds.
Blackshear continued his streak of offensive brilliance, scoring 14 factors along with grabbing 4 rebounds, and meting out 4 assists, whereas additionally recording two steals on protection.
Freshman ahead Darrion Williams had an all-around strong outing for the Pack, scoring six factors on 3-6 taking pictures from the sphere, whereas additionally grabbing six rebounds, tallying three assists, and recording one steal.
Nevada started the sport on a 7-0 run, as Baker scored back-to-back buckets within the paint adopted by three made free throws from Lucas.
After the Falcons knocked down a 3-pointer, Lucas drilled his first 3-pointer of the competition, and Nick Davidson transformed an and-one bucket within the paint, giving the Pack a 15-3 lead simply over 5 minutes into the sport. Trey Pettigrew hit two free throws shortly after to increase the Nevada result in 17-3.
Air Power scored the subsequent 5 factors; however, Tre Coleman drained a nook 3-pointer off an inbound move with lower than one second on the shot clock to provide the Pack a 20-8 lead with 12:04 left within the first half.
Simply over a minute and a half later, Lucas hit his second 3-pointer of the sport, and Baker adopted with a large dunk within the paint, giving Nevada a 15-point benefit with lower than 10 minutes to go within the first half.
Air Power used a 9-0 run the subsequent three minutes of gametime to trim the Pack’s result in six with 6:27 to go within the interval; however, Lucas transformed a troublesome and-one leap shot to cease the run and prolong the Pack’s result in 9.
After the Falcons made a layup within the paint, Lucas discovered a reducing Blackshear within the lane who completed robust on the rim, regardless of being fouled. He proceeded to hit the free throw, making the rating 31-21 with 3:14 to go till halftime.
Blackshear then drilled a contested 3-pointer to push the result in 13 factors with simply over two minutes left within the half.
Nevada proceeded to enter halftime holding a 36-25 benefit over the Falcons.
Air Power opened the second half on an 8-2 run, trimming the Pack’s result in 5; nevertheless, Darrion Williams scored 4 consecutive factors within the paint, as Nevada retook management of the momentum and held a 42-33 benefit.
The pack pushed their lead as much as 13 with just below 13 minutes to go within the sport.
Air Power tried to get again within the contest; however, the Pack, and notably Lucas, had a solution every time.
Nevada held at the very least an eight-point benefit till the ultimate 15 seconds of the sport when the Falcons managed to return inside six; however, Nevada continued to knock down free throws and went on to earn the six-point highway victory.
Notable Stats:
- The 75 factors scored by Nevada within the sport marked probably the most factors that Air Power has allowed in a sport this season.
- Jarod Lucas scored 14 factors in every half.
- Nevada knocked down an distinctive 23 free throws on 26 makes an attempt.
- Saturday’s win marks the primary time Nevada has began off 2-0 in Mountain West play because the 2019-2020 season.
- The Pack had 13 second-chance factors, whereas limiting Air Power to only 4 all through the sport.
- Nevada by no means trailed all through the competition.
- The Pack shot 52.4 p.c from the sphere within the second half.
- Nevada outscored Air Power within the paint, 30-26.
The Pack will return residence to host Colorado State on the Lawlor Occasions Heart this Wednesday with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.