Nevada Tops Air Force, 75-68
Wolf Pack defeat the Falcons to move up the standings
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Nevada puts an end to the Falcon’s five-game win streak, topping Air Force 75-68 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Nevada Wolf Pack got back to their winning ways Saturday night, sliding past Air Force, marking their first conference road win of the year. Nevada now moves to 8-6 on the year, 2-1 in conference play. Air Force also now sits at 8-6 but is 1-2 in conference play, following their two losses to Colorado State and now Nevada.
https://twitter.com/NevadaHoops/status/1482505594544091136
Both teams came out the gate sluggish, feeling out the competition before shots started falling. Grant Sherfield hit back-to-back three-pointers before Daniel Foster knocked down two free throws to give the Wolf Pack a slim 17-12 lead with 12 minutes to go in the first half. Air Force’s Nick Jackson, who finished with 11 points in this contest, hit a big-time three-pointer with six minutes left in the first half to bring the Falcons to within one, 21-20. Air Force was letting the shots fly from beyond the arc, shooting 12 three-pointers in their first 13 shot attempts. Air Force’s Ethan Taylor, who had a monster game, was able to knock down two free throws to once again bring the game to within one, 24-23. An 8-4 run to end the half gave Nevada a slim 34-27 lead at the halftime break.
Coming back from the half, it was more of the same as both teams struggled to get in rhythm on offense. A second chance layup by Nevada’s Warren Washington gave the Wolf Pack a 10 point lead with 16 minutes left in the contest. Will Baker, who had one of his best games in a Wolf Pack uniform, was able to convert the layup with 10 minutes left, giving Nevada a 52-41 lead. Baker finished with 11 points on 4-6 shooting and 10 rebounds.
Nevada’s Grant Sherfield was able to put the end to this game draining two free throws with five minutes left in the contest and never looked back. A back and forth battle ensued till the final whistle, but ultimately the Falcons couldn’t catch the Wolf Pack, falling 75-68.
Air Force struggled to find scoring outside their usual suspects. A.J. Walker finished the contest with 18 points on an efficient 50% from the field. But, it was Ethan Taylor who was able to leave his mark on this game. The 6’5 freshman came into the game averaging nine points a contest but finished this one with a triple-double. Taylor finished the game with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Grant Sherfield continues to be Nevada’s most consistently good player game in and game out. The 6’2 guard finished with 21 points and three assists while shooting 4-8 from deep in a contest where his partner in crime, Desmond Cambridge Jr, struggled to produce.
Cambridge junior failed to make a bucket in the first half and didn’t make a basket until just over eight minutes left in the game. Will Baker was also able to give Nevada a much-needed spark with the seven-footer’s 11 points and 10 rebounds. Also able to score in double digits was Warren Washington who finished with 12 points and Kenan Blackshear, who finished with 11.
Next up for Nevada (8-6, 2-1), the Wolf Pack take on Wyoming at home on Monday. For Air Force, the Falcons (8-6, 2-1) travel to Boise, Idaho to take on the Broncos.
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