AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- Senior Nick Fazekas scored 24 points to help No. 25 Nevada hold off Akron 73-71 on Friday night in front of a crowd that included Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James.
Junior Ramon Sessions added 22 points for Nevada (10-1), which tied the best start in history, set in 1978-79 and matched last season. The Wolf Pack have won nine straight on the road and are 25-5 away from home the last three seasons. The victory also snapped Akron's 21-game home winning streak, which was the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
Dru Joyce scored 23 points and Travis Romeo had 11 to lead Akron (7-3). The two seniors combined with James to win two state championships at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Nevada used an 8-0 run to take a 65-61 lead with four minutes to play. Then Nick Dials was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all the free throws to get the Zips within one point with 3:36 left.
Joyce missed a free throw with 3:01 left that would have tied it at 67, but he hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game to get the Zips within 71-69 with 1:50 left.
Fazekas made his first eight shots before missing a 12-foot jumper with 1:37 left in the first half as Nevada went on a 17-6 run to lead 41-33 at halftime.
Akron's Cedrick Middleton drove the length of the court for a three-point play as the first-half buzzer sounded.
The Zips opened the second half with a 15-3 run, including a long 3-pointer by Joyce that gave them a 48-44 lead.
Before the game, Akron coach Keith Dambrot signed a new five-year contract.
Dambrot, who has a 49-23 record in two-plus seasons at the school, is under contract through 2011. He coached St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to its state championships before taking over at Akron.
