RENO, Nev. – After suffering their first conference defeat of the season on the road against San Diego State, the University of Nevada Men’s Basketball team will return home to face Utah State Friday evening at 8pm.
Friday night’s game will be sponsored by America First Credit Union and will serve as Nevada’s Night of Recognition and Inclusion. Athletes with special and additional needs from the Hoop Camp Foundation will be participating in in-game events throughout the night.
The Pack will enter Friday night’s contest with an impressive overall record of 14-4, including a mark of 4-1 in conference play. Nevada is yet to lose at the Lawlor Events Center this season, as they hold a perfect record of 9-0 at home.
The Pack got off to a slow start against San Diego State; but, the team battled back from a double-digit deficit and outscored the Aztecs 38-30 in the second half. Unfortunately, Nevada’s strong second-half performance was not enough, as they dropped their first conference game of the season by a final score of 65-74.
For the second consecutive game, redshirt freshman Nick Davidson led the Pack in scoring, pouring in 17 points on 5-10 shooting from the field throughout the contest. Davidson also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, four of which came on the offensive glass. Over Nevada’s past three games, Davidson is averaging 14.7 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the field and 93 percent at the free throw line, while also pulling down 6.3 boards per contest. Davidson now ranks fourth overall on the team in both scoring (8.6 PPG) and rebounding (4.3 RPG).
Fellow freshman Darrion Williams had another strong outing against the Aztecs, scoring 10 points on 4-8 shooting from the field and 2-5 from behind the arc, while also pulling down six rebounds and recording a career-high four steals throughout the game. Williams continues to lead the Pack in rebounding this season, and he currently ranks sixth overall in the Mountain West, averaging 7.2 boards per game. Williams has scored at least nine points and pulled down at least six rebounds in each of Nevada’s past three games.
Freshman guard Trey Pettigrew had one of his best offensive performances this season, scoring seven points on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field in 13 minutes of action off the bench.
The freshmen trio of Davidson, Williams, and Pettigrew are averaging a combined 31.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per game over the Pack’s past two games.
Kenan Blackshear scored 12 points, pulled down five rebounds, and dished out a game-high five assists against the Aztecs. The senior guard has now reached double figures in scoring in nine straight games, and he has recorded at least three assists in 17 of Nevada’s 18 games this season. Blackshear continues to rank in the top-15 of the Mountain West in an abundance of individual categories. Blackshear is currently tied for first in total assists (86 assists), second in assists per game (4.8 APG), eighth in free throw percentage (8.4%), 10th in steals per game (1.4 SPG) and minutes per game (31.8 MPG), and 12th in points per game (14.0 PPG).
Jarod Lucas also eclipsed double figures in scoring against San Diego State, putting up 11 points during the game. Lucas has now scored in double figures in 16 straight games and 17 of 18 contests this season. Lucas ranks second in the conference in total points (300), points per game (16.7 PPG), and made 3-pointers (48), while also ranking third in free throw percentage (85.4%), and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8%).
As a team, Nevada has continued to maintain one of the best free throw percentages in the country, as they currently rank seventh in the nation at 79.3 percent. The Pack also ranks first in the country in made free throws (322) and 17th in free throw attempts (406).
The Pack has excelled on the defensive end of the court throughout the season, as they rank in the top-five of the conference in almost every defensive statistical category. Nevada is currently third in the Mountain West in opponent points per game (64.4 PPG), third in opponent field goal percentage (40.2%), fifth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.1%), fifth in turnovers forced (233), and fifth in defensive rebounding (26.8 per game).
Nevada has been exceptional coming off of a loss this season, as they own a 3-0 record, winning by an average margin of 6.7 points in those contests.
The Pack will need a strong performance Friday to move to 4-0 following a loss this season, as they will host a high-powered Utah State team.
Scouting Utah State
Utah State enters Friday’s matchup with an overall record of 14-3 and a mark of 3-1 in conference play.
The Aggies earned impressive victories over Utah Valley, Santa Clara, San Francisco, LMU, and Washington State this season, with their three losses coming against Weber State, SMU, and Boise State.
Utah State has been lethal from behind the arc this season, as they rank first in the country in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting a sensational 42.3 percent from three this season.
The Aggies rank second in the Mountain West in points per game (81.9 PPG), second in field goal percentage (49.0%), and third in free throw percentage (73.5%).
Individually, junior guard Steven Ashworth has led the way for Utah State, averaging 15.6 points per game on an incredible 51.3 percent shooting from behind the arc, which ranks first in the country. Ashworth also leads the conference and ranks 11th in the nation in made 3-point field goals per game, as the junior is averaging 3.4 makes from behind the arc each time out.
Graduate student Taylor Funk is also having an exceptional season on offense for Utah State, as he is averaging 14.1 points per game on 40.2 percent shooting from three, in addition to ranking second on the team in rebounding, grabbing 5.7 boards per contest.
Max Shulga and Dan Akin are also averaging double figures in scoring for the Aggies, putting up 12.2 and 12.1 points per game, respectively. Akin also leads the team in rebounding, pulling down an impressive 7.4 boards per contest this season.
Nevada will look to slow down the pace of the game and prevent Utah State from getting open 3-pointers in transition throughout the contest. The Pack will need to protect the 3-point line and have one of their best defensive performances of the season in order to earn their 15th victory of the year and move to 5-1 in Mountain West play.
Series History
Nevada and Utah State have faced off 38 times throughout history, with the Aggies holding a 22-16 record in the all-time series. Nevada won the most recent contest between the two squads, earning an 85-72 victory over Utah State in Logan last February.
