Nevada vs. New Mexico Preview & Score Prediction
Check out the Nevada vs. New Mexico game preview and score prediction
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New Mexico (6-8, 1-0 MW) at Nevada (12-3, 1-0 MW)
Game Info
Date: Saturday, December 30
Tip-off: 5:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Lawlor Events Center; Reno, Nevada
TV/stream: AT&T SportsNet
Projected nevada Lineup
Caleb Martin – Averaged 20 points per game over prior four
Cody Martin
Jordan Caroline
Kendall Stephens
Lindsey Drew
Projected New Mexico Lineup
Dane Kuiper – Four straight games of scoring in double figires
Troy Simons
Makuach Maluach
Joe Furstinger
Vladimir Pinchuk
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Why New Mexico Will Win
Head coach Paul Weir had kind words to say about the defense after the Lobos easy win over Air Force in the conference opener, but it was the Falcons.
“I thought the first 20 minutes were tremendous,” Weir said. “We had 25 deflections at the half. We were really active. We were really energetic and I loved it. We had 13 deflections in the second half and that was about what if felt like: about half the defense of the first half.”
Playing Nevada will take a complete 40 minute effort on both ends of the floor. New Mexico’s offense has been up and down this year as they like to run and push the tempo, but that offensive concept runs into issues against good teams.
If New Mexico is going to win they need Joe Furstinger to continue his scoring burst in which he has averaged 15.1 points over his prior four games.
Why Nevada Will Win
Talent is the easy answer as to why the Wolf Pack will be victorious and they are at home. The Wolf Pack must defend the three-point show as the Lobos like to chuck from beyond the arc. New Mexico attempts 31.5 per game which ranks fourth in the nation, but they convert only 36.5 percent. However, if the Lobos get hot it could spell doom for the Wolf Pack.
Rebounding and size is how the Wolf Pack will get the win. The Lobos only big man with significant minutes is Vladimir Pinchuk who is 6-10 he averages only three per game, and the leading rebounder is the 6-9 Joe Furstinger who gets just six per game.
The Lobos have been out rebounded by over five per game and the difference between them and the Wolf Pack is just two but Nevada has three players who pull down over five per game and Caroline gets nine boards per game.
KenPom Line
Nevada -17, o/u: 157
Score Prediction
Nevada 78, New Mexico 67