[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]
Nevada Sweeps Rival UNLV
Wolf Pack get a few more wins
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The Nevada Wolf Pack hosts in-state rival UNLV and takes care of business, sweeping the Runnin Rebels. Nevada, behind some stellar scoring, improves to eight straight wins over UNLV.
First Game – Nevada 89 UNLV 60
Nevada started game one of this two game stretch incredibly hot. The Wolf Pack shot a blistering 63% from the field and went 8-12 from beyond the arch in the first half. The Wolf Pack also had an easy time sharing the ball with 13 assists. UNLV went 6-17 from beyond the arch but still trailed by 16 points at the break. Nevada closed out the game shooting an unreal 58% from the three-point line. The Wolf Pack was led by Desmond Cambridge who scored 17 points on 66% shooting from the field.
Three other Wolf Pack players scored in double digits. The Runnin Rebels were led by the Reno native Moses Wood and South Dakota State transfer David Jenkins Jr. who each had 13 points. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the game was decided by the bench points as Nevada outscored UNLV 39-11. This game was out of reach early in the second half and the Wolf Pack eventually beat the Running Rebels by 29 points.
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It is without a doubt that Nevada had their most complete game of the year. The Wolf Pack held UNLV to around 35% shooting from the field and from the three-point line while having their best shooting night of the season. The Wolf Pack’s 89 points are the most points Nevada has scored all year. Out of the 12 players that stepped on the court for Nevada, 10 of them scored at least one bucket and only two of those players shot less than 50% from the field. The Wolf Pack had a great first game in this contentious series as they turned their sights to complete the sweep on Tuesday in Lawlor.
Second Game – Nevada 72 – UNLV 62
The second game in this two-game series started off very differently than the one on Sunday. Nevada missed their first nine three-point shots until the Wolf Pack’s leading scorer, Grant Sherfield hit one from beyond the arch around the seven-minute mark. UNLV once again was led by Wood who had 12 points at the break. The Running Rebels shot an impressive 45% from the field and went into the locker room with a four-point lead over the struggling Wolf Pack.
It was a much different first half from the game on Sunday as Nevada shot only 18% from beyond the arch compared to 66% in the first game. Nevada was unable to score the ball in the first half but completely turned it around after the break. The Wolf Pack came out shooting 62% from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arch.
Nevada’s third scoring option, Zane Meeks, actually led the Pack in today’s game giving Nevada a much-needed 19 points. Wood led the Rebels with 16 points with Caleb Grill scoring 14 points. While UNLV gave Nevada a run for their money and actually led with just under six minutes left to play, the Wolf Pack went on a 19-4 run to close the game eventually winning this one 72-62.
UNLV continues to struggle against the Wolf Pack dropping eight straight including four straight under second year head coach T.J. Otzelberger. The implications after this series is huge. Nevada, who got swept by Wyoming and were looking at the bottom half of the conference straight in the face, now sit at fifth place in the Mountain West. While UNLV showed brief signs of life with a sweep over New Mexico and a series split against conference powerhouse Utah State, the Rebels now drop to seventh place.
Next up for the Runnin Rebels is a home series against the Air Force Falcons as Nevada stays in Lawlor to face the first place team in the conference, the Boise State Broncos.
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