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New-look Nevada routs Louisiana Tech in season opener, 77-50; Pacific up next at Lawlor

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New-look Nevada routs Louisiana Tech in season opener, 77-50; Pacific up next at Lawlor


Nevada has 10 newcomers on the basketball team, but they looked like a cohesive, seasoned group in the season opener.

The Wolf Pack got a strong defensive effort and dominated Louisiana Tech in taking a 77-50 win on Tuesday in front of 7,144 fans at Lawlor Events Center.

Chuck Bailey III led the way with 24 points, but the Pack had a fairly balanced attack as 13 Pack players got in the game.

Tayshawn Comer added 10 points and Elijah Price added nine points and eight rebounds as Nevada started the season 1-0.

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Deep bench contributes to win

Bailey said he tried to get “one percent better” every day over the summer and fall.

He attributed the win Tuesday to team toughness, saying anyone on the roster can play and contribute without a drop-off.

“We’re going to play hard on the defensive end,” Bailey said. “We communicate well. That was the most I’ve seen us communicate since I’ve been here. … We have a deep team and we can all play. You can go as hard as you can on the court and you can get a breather.”

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Nevada coach Steve Alford pressed throughout the game, something he said he has never done in his previous 34 years of coaching.

“We’re not going to be able to play 12 or 14 guys every game, but we do have the ability to play a lot of guys, throw a lot of people at you,” Alford said. “I’m most impressed with how hard we played. We played very hard and we ‘re starting to establish a physicality to how we play.”

He said the press slowed the Bulldogs’ attack, often forcing them to take up to nine seconds to cross midcourt, meaning the Pack only had to guard for 21 seconds.

It was the first meeting between the schools since 2012, when both were members of the WAC.

Alford said Bailey put in more work than anyone over the offseason.

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“He’s ready for this. From when he was at Evansville, very good freshman, then he came here and put in some good minutes, playing behind a lot of old guys, and now it’s his turn and he’s making the most of it,” Alford said. “One game doesn’t all of a sudden make a season, but he’s had this kind of consistency throughout the entire summer and fall, so it’s not surprising he had a game like his.”

He added that Bailey will be likely become a focal point for opposing defenses.

Keys to the game

Nevada’s defense forced 13 turnovers.

The Pack outrebounded the Bulldogs, 45-26. The Pack had 17 offensive rebounds and got 21 points off those.

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The Bulldogs had one offensive rebound.

Pack point guard Tyler Rolison did not score, but he had seven assists and two turnovers.

He also made sure other Pack players got in the game late in the blowout, namely Christopher Baudreau.

“His job as a point guard is to win. His job as a point guard is to establish who we are, identity-wise offense and defense,” Alford said of Rolison. “No points and he is yelling at me about Chris with two minutes to go. Sometimes I can’t see the whole bench. He is yelling at me to put Chris in. I don’t know if TR two years ago would have been thinking about Chris. That’s growth. That’s serving a teammate.”

Key stats

The Pack shot 25-of-56 from the floor, and 6-of-20 from the arc. The Pack was 21-of-29 from the free throw line.

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The Bulldogs shot 18-of-50 from the field and 3-22 from the arc. Louisiana Tech hit 11-of-17 free throws.

No Bulldogs players were in double figures in scoring.

“As the word gets out, this is a fun team to watch,” Alford said. “It’s an exciting team. There’s tempo to it. There’s excitement to it. Our guys have some good personalities, especially on the defensive end.”

Pack had edge at halftime

Nevada led, 34-18, at the break, shooting 13-33 from the field and 3-11 from the arc.

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The Pack had a 26-16 rebounding advantage at the break.

Bulldogs had six blocks in first half and finished with eight; Pack had two blocks in the first half and ended with three.

Sick, injured players as Nevada’s season begins

Alford said Vaughn Weems was not feeling well, but wanted to play anyway and he got 11 minutes on the court.

Pack freshman forward Ethan Coley missed the game with a sprained ankle.

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Up next

Nevada hosts Pacific (0-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Pacific opens its season Wednesday against Life Pacific.

The Tigers are led by coach Dave Smart, who is in his second season. Elias Ralph, a fifth-year forward, was named to the 2025-26 West Coast Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Pacific men’s basketball program was predicted to finish 10th in the WCC preseason coaches’ poll.

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Nevada’s upcoming games

  • Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. vs. Louisiana Tech
  • Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. vs. Pacific (TV- KNSN)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. vs. Southern Illinois
  • Saturday, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. at Santa Clara
  • Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. vs. UC Davis
  • Saturday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. vs. UCSB
  • Thursday, Nov. 27, 1:30 p.m. vs Washington at Palm Springs, Calif
  • Friday, Nov. 28, vs. Colorado or San Francisco at Palm Springs, Calif
  • Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7 p..m vs. UC San Diego
  • Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. at Washington State
  • Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. vs. Duquesne
  • Saturday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. vs. Boise State
  • Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Colorado State
  • Saturday, Jan. 3 at Fresno State
  • Tuesday, Jan. 6 vs. San Diego State
  • Saturday, Jan. 10 vs. Wyoming
  • Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Utah State
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 at Air Force
  • Tuesday, Jan. 20 vs. San Jose State
  • Saturday, Jan. 24 at New Mexico
  • Tuesday, Jan. 27 vs. Grand Canyon
  • Friday, Jan. 30 vs. UNLV
  • Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Boise State
  • Saturday, Feb. 7 vs. Fresno State
  • Saturday, Feb. 14 at San Diego State
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17 at San Jose State
  • Saturday, Feb. 21 vs. Utah State
  • Tuesday, Feb. 24 vs. New Mexico
  • Saturday, Feb. 28 at UNLV
  • Tuesday, Mar. 3 at Wyoming
  • Saturday, Mar. 7 vs. Air Force



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UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

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UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires


After decades of cheatgrass-fueled wildfires across Nevada, researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are testing whether cattle can help restore damaged rangelands by spreading native seeds as they graze.

Cheatgrass, an invasive plant common across the Great Basin, dries out early and can fuel larger wildfires, making it harder for native vegetation to return. UNR postdoctoral scholar William Richardson said the plant helps create a self-reinforcing cycle.

“Cheatgrass grows, it creates more wildfires, that allows more cheatgrass to grow, and it becomes a bigger and bigger issue. That’s why we’re seeing all these mega fires spreading across the Great Basin,” Richardson said.

The challenge continues after flames are out. In Nevada’s arid climate, native plants can struggle to reestablish, while cheatgrass often returns quickly.

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UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

“We struggle with getting five to eight inches of rain a year. Trying to restore a native community in those very arid conditions are extremely difficult,” Richardson said.

Ewe won’t believe it: Sheep munch away at Reno’s wildfire worries in Arrowcreek area

Ranchers already use targeted grazing to reduce cheatgrass. Now, UNR researchers are studying whether cattle can also help reseed the landscape. The approach mixes native grass seeds into protein supplements cattle already eat. Researchers then track whether the seeds can survive digestion and be spread naturally across the range after being deposited in manure.

“We’re already using cattle to combat cheatgrass through targeted grazing, and the ultimate goal is to bring native species back across the landscape, so why don’t we combine those two ideas?” Richardson said.

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In lab testing, researchers evaluated special seed coatings designed to help some seeds survive a cow’s digestive system. The results showed certain species could make it through the process and still germinate after being deposited in manure, Richardson said, though some seeds need more protection than others.

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

“Some species naturally have a very thin seed coat and require more protection, while others can go through the gut of a cow easy peasy lemon squeezy,” he said.

The project is expected to move into field testing this fall at Horseshoe Ranch near Eureka, where researchers will track whether seeds can not only survive digestion but also establish new plants on the landscape.

“It’s a passive way to restore the landscape. Instead of having to go in with a tractor or seed from an airplane, you can use cows that are already there,” Richardson said.

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UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

Researchers said the method is not intended to replace traditional restoration work, but to add another tool for land managers and ranchers. If the field trials are successful, they said the approach could eventually help restore thousands — or even hundreds of thousands — of acres across the Great Basin.



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As temperatures rise, HELP of Southern Nevada continues homeless outreach efforts

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As temperatures rise, HELP of Southern Nevada continues homeless outreach efforts












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HELP of Southern Nevada continues homeless outreach efforts | Local Las Vegas | Local























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