The University of Nevada Men’s Basketball team is set to host New Mexico this Monday evening at 6pm at Lawlor Events Center in the Pack’s annual white out game.
Monday’s game will serve as the Reno Rodeo Night as well as the Pack’s Coaches vs Cancer game. The first 300 students to arrive will receive a free In-N-Out burger. The Nevada Softball and Men’s and Women’s golf teams will be available for pregame autographs and will be recognized during the game. The halftime show will include baby races and a line dance performance by Miss Behavin’ Honeys.
Monday night’s showdown will be a tilt between two of the top teams in the Mountain West, as the Pack and the Lobos are each currently tied for second place in the conference standings with a mark of 5-2 in Mountain West play.
Nevada Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford will be taking on his former team, as he served as the Head Coach of the Lobos from 2007-2013. Alford owns a perfect record of 6-0 against New Mexico as the Head Coach of the Wolf Pack, and he will look to make it 7-0 on Monday night.
Nevada is coming off a loss on the road against Boise State this past Tuesday; but, the Pack have been exceptional in contests following a loss this season. They are 4-0 in games following a loss entering Monday night’s matchup, winning those games by an average margin of 8.8 points.
Nevada will once again seek to have a strong performance coming off of a loss and remain undefeated at home Monday night with a win over New Mexico.
Jarod Lucas led the Pack in scoring this past Tuesday against the Broncos, putting up 15 points in the game while knocking down 3-8 shots from behind the arc. Lucas continues to pace the Wolf Pack offense this season, as he ranks first on the team and fourth in the Mountain West in scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game.
Lucas also ranks third in the conference in total points (336), second in made 3-pointers (54), and fourth in free throw percentage (84.6%). Lucas has scored in double figures in an incredible 18 straight games and in 19 of 20 games overall this season. The senior guard has also managed to hit multiple 3-pointers in 17 games this season, including draining three or more shots from behind the arc in 11 contests.
Kenan Blackshear chipped in 12 points against the Broncos while also recording two steals in the game. Blackshear has achieved double figures in scoring in 11 straight games and in 17 of 20 contests this season.
The senior point guard continues to rank in the top-15 of the Mountain West in a plethora of individual statistical categories.
Blackshear currently ranks third in the league in both total assists (92) and assists per game (4.6), seventh in steals per game (1.6), eighth in free throw percentage (80.9%), 10th in scoring (14.6 PPG), and 12th in minutes per game (31.9). Blackshear has dished out at least three assists in all but two contests for Nevada this season.
Will Baker also scored 12 points against Boise State, and the redshirt junior ranks third on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game. Baker has knocked down 34.2 percent of his 3-point attempts this season, and he currently ranks third in the Mountain West in free throw percentage (85.7%).
Freshman forward Darrion Williams led the Pack in rebounding for the 12th time this season against Boise State, pulling down 10 boards to eclipse double-digit rebounds for the seventh time this season. Williams ranks sixth overall in the Mountain West in rebounding, pulling down 7.3 boards per contest, in addition to ranking ninth in steals (1.6 SPG).
Redshirt freshman Nick Davidson chipped in eight points and three rebounds off the bench for the Pack in the game against Boise State, marking the fifth straight game that Davidson has scored at least eight points. Davidson currently ranks first on the team and seventh in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (42.6%). Davidson ranks fourth on the team in scoring this season at 8.5 points per game, and he has elevated his play against Mountain West competition, as he is averaging 10.6 points per game on a sensational 58.1 percent shooting from the field, 44.4 percent from behind the arc, and 88.9 percent at the free throw line in conference play.
Junior forward Tre Coleman had another spectacular individual defensive performance against the Broncos, limiting Boise State’s leading scorer, Marcus Shaver Jr., to just five points on 2-9 shooting from the field as the primary defender. Coleman also added seven points on 3-4 shooting from the field and five rebounds in the contest. Coleman will need to have another strong defensive performance against New Mexico if the Pack hope to earn a victory.
As a team, Nevada continues to rank at the top of the conference in a multitude of defensive statistical categories. The Pack rank second in opponent field goal percentage (40.8%), fourth in opponent points per game (65.3 PPG), and fifth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (33.0%), defensive rebounding (26.4 per game), and turnovers forced (253).
Nevada has excelled at the free throw line throughout the season, as they currently rank seventh in the country in free throw percentage (79.2%) and 14th in made free throws (346).
Nevada faces a difficult challenge Monday evening against a New Mexico team that holds an overall record of 18-2 this season.
Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico has had an impressive campaign hus far, earning marquee wins over Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, and most recently Boise State this past Friday.
The Lobos boast one of the most high-powered offenses in the country, as they currently rank first in the Mountain West and 16th in the nation in points per game (81.9).
New Mexico also holds the third-best field goal percentage in the conference, as they are shooting 48.6 percent from the field this season.
The Lobos are led by a three-headed attack consisting of Jamal Mashburn Jr., Jaelen House, and Morris Udeze, as the trio is responsible for 63 percent of New Mexico’s scoring this year.
Mashburn, a transfer from Minnesota, currently leads the league in scoring at 18.6 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent from behind the arc.
House has combined with Mashburn to form one of the most dangerous backcourt duos in the country, as he currently ranks third in the Mountain West in scoring, putting up 17.4 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and a 40.7 percent mark from three. House has also been a force on the defensive end of the court for New Mexico, as he leads the conference and ranks fifth in the country in steals per game (2.8 SPG).
Udeze has been dominant in the paint for the Lobos this season, as the Wichita State transfer ranks first in the conference in rebounding (8.5 RPG) and seventh in scoring (15.7 PPG).
As phenomenal as New Mexico has been on offense, they have struggled defensively at times, as they rank eighth in the league in opponent points per game (69.5 PPG).
The Lobos have dominated the glass all season, and they lead the Mountain West in rebounding, averaging 39.5 boards per game.
The Pack will need to limit production from Mashburn Jr. and House and keep New Mexico off the glass while having a solid offensive performance if they hope to move to 16-5 overall and 10-0 at Lawlor Events Center this season.
Series History
Nevada and New Mexico have faced off 19 times throughout history, as the Pack holds a 12-7 advantage in the series. Nevada has won seven consecutive contests against the Lobos, most recently beating them by a score of 79-72 in the 2022 Mountain West Tournament.
