Nevada Postgame Notes:
- With the 86-74 win over Central Florida on Sunday, Nevada improved to 5-4 on the year and has won three games in a row, its longest winning steak of the season.
- Nevada also won for the 28th time in 30 games, including its third contest in a row.
- Senior Marcelus Kemp led four players in double figures for scoring with 24 points. It marked his fifth 20-point game this season and his 19th consecutive game in double figures.
- Sophomore Brandon Fields turned in a career-best 22 points and matched his career high with four three-pointers made. It marked the second consecutive game that he has turned in career high numbers for scoring after having 17 points Wednesday vs. San Diego.
- Sophomore JaVale McGee added 15 points and turned in a career-high 18 rebounds. That was the most rebounds since Nick Fazekas had 18 rebounds in Nevada’s Jan. 27 win over Utah State last year.
- McGee also blocked three shots in the game and moved into 10th on the Nevada career list with 59 blocks in 42 career games.
- Nevada pulled down a season-high 47 rebounds in the victory and outrebounded the Knights 47-28 in the victory.
Nevada Quotes
Nevada senior guard Marcelus Kemp on shooting free throws:
“We practice free throws every day. We should be better working on it every day. We made our free throws down the stretch and got the win.”
Nevada senior forward Demarshay Johnson on the game:
“We lost to them the first time, so to come out and play well is good.”
Nevada coach Mark Fox on the UCF press:
“Their press was effective and we made some real fundamental mistakes. We handled it much better in the second half. Their press was what allowed them to get back in the game in the first half.”
Fox on the game:
“I have a lot of respect for Central Florida. We made some mental mistakes. It shows we beat a good team. It was a good win and we beat a good team.”
Fox on the difference between the first and second games with UCF:
“We focused completely on ourselves. We made too many mistakes in the game there. We cleaned up our offensive rebounding, which was a problem in game 1.”
Fox on the play of sophomore center JaVale McGee:
“JaVale rebounded the ball well and shot free throws well late. He’s established himself as an offensive player, and it’s getting harder and harder for him to get the ball. Tonight he showed he’s more than just a dunker. He rebounded well and made his free throws.”
Fox on UCF guard Jermaine Taylor:
“He’s a great player and he lit us up like a Christmas tree in the second half.”
Fox on the overall play of his team:
“I thought we turned it over too much. We had lapses defensively. We’re growing slowly but I’ll take the win.”
Fox on playing during finals week:
“It’s been a challenging week for us. The win is secondary. We need to win the exams. am pleased we were able to get the win, and we have another exam tomorrow.”
UCF Quotes
UCF Head Coach Kirk Speraw on the game:
“It was a tough game. The Wolf Pack is a good team in a packed house with rabid fans. When you go on the road in an environment like this, you need to make less mistakes.”
Speraw on his team’s performance:
“There were too many things we didn’t handle correctly. We talked it out during halftime and never made the adjustments. We couldn’t get up there. We thought we were going to come out and have a good look. It was a really tough night not making free throws.”
Speraw on UCF’s upcoming schedule:
“This is going to be one of the most difficult schedule in the holiday. We have a lot to work on. We are going try to work on some things before they head home. They have to be committed over the next 12 day period. It’s going to be a crucial schedule.”
