Coming off of a thrilling double overtime victory over #25 New Mexico, marking the Pack’s first victory over a ranked opponent since 2018, the University of Nevada Men’s Basketball team will make the trip south to Las Vegas to face intrastate rival UNLV on Saturday night.
Following the Pack’s massive victory over #25 New Mexico, Nevada owns an overall record of 16-5, including a mark of 6-2 in Mountain West play.
The Pack enters Saturday’s contest deadlocked in a tie for second place with Boise State in the conference standings, as they will seek to improve to 7-2 in conference play and keep pace at the top of the league.
Redshirt junior Will Baker had one of the most impressive outings of his career in the Pack’s win over New Mexico, pouring in a career-high 28 points on a highly efficient 12-17 shooting from the field. Baker logged a career-high 40 minutes of action in the contest. He pulled down five rebounds and dished out a career-high three assists, in addition to the 28 points scored.
Baker has significantly elevated his game in conference play this season, as the center is averaging 15.5 points per game on outstanding clips of 58.5 percent shooting from the field, 38.9 percent from behind the arc, and 80.8 percent at the free throw line against Mountain West opponents.
Jarod Lucas had another strong outing on offense against the Lobos, putting up 22 points while knocking down three shots from behind the arc throughout the game. Lucas also earned a plus/minus of +4 in 38 minutes of action.
Lucas has now reached double figures in scoring in 20 of 21 games this season, and he has accomplished the feat in 19 straight contests. Lucas has also hit multiple 3-pointers in 18 games this year, including hitting three or more shots from deep in 12 contests.
Lucas currently ranks in the top-five of the Mountain West in multiple offensive statistical categories. He is tied for second in the conference in made 3-pointers (57), third in total points scored (358), fourth in points per game (17.0), and sixth in free throw percentage (83.6%).
Kenan Blackshear had another sensational performance on both ends of the floor for Nevada against New Mexico, as the senior guard dropped 20 points on an efficient 8-13 shooting from the field and 4-5 at the free throw line. Blackshear also tallied four assists and matched a career-high by recording five steals. He logged 39 minutes of action in the contest and finished the game with a plus/minus of +4.
Blackshear has now eclipsed double figures in scoring in 12 straight games, and in 18 of 21 games overall this season. He has also recorded at least three assists in all but two contests this year for the Pack.
As he has done all season, Blackshear continues to rank in the top-15 of the conference in an abundance of individual statistical categories. Blackshear is currently fourth in total assists (96), fifth in assists per game (4.6), sixth in steals per game (1.8), eighth in free throw percentage (80.9%), 10th in points per game (14.9), and 11th in minutes per contest (32.2).
Freshman forward Darrion Williams had an exceptional game against New Mexico, as he recorded the first double-double of his collegiate career, putting up 13 points while pulling down a career-high 13 rebounds. Williams also recorded three assists and three steals, in addition to tallying one block in the contest.
Williams has now led Nevada in rebounding in 13 of 21 games this season, and he has surpassed double figures in rebounding in eight contests this year. He currently ranks first on the team and sixth overall in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (7.5), while also ranking eighth in the league in steals per game (1.6).
Junior Forward Tré Coleman had an all-around phenomenal performance against New Mexico, scoring seven points, in addition to dishing out a game-high and career-high nine assists, pulling down four rebounds, and matching a career-high by recording three assists and three blocks. Coleman has continued to be a defensive force for the Pack this season, and he will look to have another strong defensive outing against UNLV on Saturday.
As a team, Nevada had an impressive performance on offense in the win over the Lobos, as they shot 48 percent from the field for the game and matched a season-high by recording 23 assists. The Pack also only had nine turnovers throughout the 50-minute game.
This season, Nevada continues to rank in the top five of the conference in a multitude of defensive statistical categories. The pack currently ranks third in opponent field goal percentage (41.5%), fifth in opponent points per game (66.7 PPG), fifth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (33.4%), fifth in defensive rebounding (26.3 per game), fifth in turnovers forced (272), and fifth in steals per game (6.3).
Nevada will face a difficult road test against a talented UNLV team this Saturday, as they will look to earn their fifth true road win this season.
Scouting UNLV
UNLV had an impressive run through the non-conference portion of their schedule, as they entered Mountain West play with a record of 11-1 and marquee victories over Dayton and Washington State.
The Runnin’ Rebels have struggled since beginning the conference portion of their schedule, as they currently hold a record of 2-6 in Mountain West play.
UNLV boasts one of the highest-scoring offenses in the conference this season, as they currently rank third in the league in scoring, averaging 76.4 points per game. The Rebels rely heavily on 3-pointers, as 41.4 percent of their total shot attempts have come from behind the arc this season. They rank seventh in the league in 3-point field goal percentage this year, holding a clip of 35.2% from deep.
Defensively, UNLV is giving up 68.5 points per game to their opponents, which ranks seventh in the Mountain West.
The Rebels have struggled on the glass this season, as they rank ninth in the league in rebounding margin (-2.4) and last in combined opponent rebounds, as their opponents are pulling down 36.7 boards per game.
Individually, Oklahoma transfer EJ Harkless has led the way for the Rebels throughout the season on offense. Harkless currently ranks first on the team and fifth in the conference in scoring, as he enters Saturday’s game averaging 17.0 points per game. Harkless is also second on the team in assists (3.4 PG) and third in rebounding (4.9 RPG) this season.
Sophomore guard Keshon Gilbert is also having a strong season for the Rebels, as he ranks second on the team in scoring, putting up 12.4 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent from behind the arc. Gilbert has done a solid job of facilitating in the UNLV offense, as he leads the team in assists this season, averaging 3.8 per game.
Ole Miss transfer Luis Rodriguez is the third Rebel that is averaging double figures in scoring this year, as the senior guard is putting 12.1 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent from behind the arc. Rodriguez also leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.7 boards per contest. Rodriguez has been a strong defender for the Rebels, and he enters Saturday’s game ranked second in the Mountain West in steals per game (2.2).
Nevada will need to protect the 3-point line, win the rebounding battle, and have another efficient offensive performance against the Rebels in order to pick up their 17th victory of the season and progress to 7-2 in Mountain West play.
Series History
Nevada and UNLV have met on the court 79 times throughout history, with the Rebels holding a 52-27 advantage in the all-time series. UNLV won the most recent matchup between the two squads, picking up a 62-54 victory last February.
