Nevada improves to 2-0 in conference play by surviving New Mexico, 77-74.
The Nevada Wolf Pack survived a challenge from a tough New Mexico team as they improved to 2-0 in conference play by defeating the Lobos 77-74.
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Wolf Pack Survives the Lobos 77-74
It was not easy, and the New Mexico Lobos showed a lot of heart, toughness and fight but in the end, the Nevada Wolf Pack dug deep and was able to defeat the Lobos 77-74 in Reno on Saturday. The win improves the Wolf Pack’s record to 13-3 and 2-0 in conference play for the first time in the Eric Musselman era while the Lobos drop to 6-9 and 1-1 in conference play.
It was a game in which Nevada had a few double digits leads on the Lobos, but the Lobos kept fighting and chipping away at the Wolf Pack lead and stayed competitive throughout. The Wolf Pack were up 70-63 with 6:01 left in the game when the Lobos went on a 7-0 scoring run to tie the game. An Anthony Mathis (17 points, 5 for 8 3PT) nailed a three to tie the game at the 4:55 mark of the game.
The Wolf Pack retook the lead when Caleb Martin (24 points, 9-15 F, 3-7 3PT) connected on a jumper to make it a 72-70 Nevada lead. Caleb Martin would score the final six points for Nevada in the game, but the Lobos kept on fighting. A Sam Longwood (12 points, six rebounds) jumper with 56 seconds left in the game cut the Nevada lead to two at 76-74 but when Joe Furstinger (ten points, ten rebounds) fouled Jordan Caroline on the next Wolf Pack possession, Caroline (21 points, ten rebounds 6-11FG, 2-3 3PT) went one for two from the free throw line to extend the Wolf Pack lead to three at 77-74.
The Lobos had three chances to tie the game in the final seconds of the game: The Lobos missed a three-point shot but they retained possession, a Chris McNeal (seven points, two rebounds) three-point attempt was blocked by Lindsey Drew (13 points, seven assists, three blocks), but the Lobos retained possession with two seconds left in the game. And finally, Sam Longwood’s inbound pass was stolen by Caleb Martin and that sealed the victory for the Wolf Pack.
It was the type of close, hard fought victory Nevada needed after coming so close to winning these types of games in non-conference play (dropping close games to Texas Tech and TCU). This type of win can do wonders for the Wolf Pack’s mentality moving forward into conference play.
The Wolf Pack return to action on Wednesday night as they host Wyoming in Reno.