RENO, Nevada (AP) — Nevada coach Eric Musselman wanted to send a message about his team's 3-point shooting, especially against the zone defense.
"I think everybody is playing zone (when they play us)," Musselman said Friday night. "That's fine. I think our school record is 17 3s. I didn't know it until I grabbed the stat sheet. I would have told them to launch a few more with five minutes to go because we're two short from the record."
Caleb Martin scored all of his 22 points in the second half and No. 7 Nevada shot 48 percent from 3-point range in an 83-61 victory over Pacific on Friday night.
Jordan Caroline scored 16 points, Tre'Shawn Thurman added 14, Jazz Johnson 12 and Cody Martin 11 for Nevada (2-0).
Anthony Townes finished with 13 points and Lafayette Dorsey added 10 for the Tigers (1-1).
Nevada had a lopsided size advantage with all of its starters standing 6-foot-7 or taller. Pacific's tallest starter was 6-foot-7 Jahbril Price-Noel. But instead of exploiting that advantage, Nevada went to work from beyond the arc — and it worked.
The Wolf Pack shot 60 percent of its first 38 shots from 3-point range and converted 15 of 31 from long range.
"I'm not surprised that they are making those shots," said Cody Martin, who also had 10 assists. "It just feels good because for them the biggest thing was not just getting the nerves or the jitters, or whatever you want to call it, out of the way, but once one fell for them, it was over."
That success helped the Wolf Pack maintain a lead most of the game, even with last year's top scorer, Caleb Martin, held scoreless in the first half. He was also scoreless in the first half of the team's opener on Tuesday and wound up with 21 points.
"Scouting reports are so centered on him," Musselman said. "I think he is trying to get other guys involved early in the game. Last year, we went to him a lot early in the game. Now we're going to him in the second half."
Nevada did end up exploiting its height advantage, but not before Pacific forward Zach Cameron left the game with an injury and Price-Noel fouled out with 11:41 left.
"The first half we were fine, but in the second half, we didn't have answers," Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire said. "They made a lot of shots and we got into some foul trouble ... at their place, you can't do that."
Pacific (1-1) played the majority of the second half in foul trouble. The Tigers had 28 personal fouls while Nevada had 18.
Nevada built a nine-point lead by the end of the first half and outscored Pacific 49-34 in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Pacific: The Tigers stayed in striking distance of a top 10 team, but couldn't survive foul trouble and Nevada's hot shooting down the stretch.
Nevada: The Wolf Pack look like a second-half team through the first two games. Nevada outscored its first two opponents 68-59 in the first half and 101-70 in the second half.
MARTIN'S SECOND HALF SUCCESS
In back-to-back games to start the season, Caleb Martin, Nevada's leading scorer in 2017-18, entered halftime scoreless. Martin scored 21 points in the second half of the season opener against BYU. He scored 22 in the second half Friday.
UP NEXT
Pacific: The Tigers return to Stockton to host Stanislaus State on Tuesday
Nevada: The Wolf Pack plays game three of its four-game home stand against Little Rock on Friday.
Game Notes:
No. 7/9 Nevada improved to 2-0 after an 83-61 victory over Pacific (1-1) tonight at Lawlor Events Center in front of 10,561 fans.
The Wolf Pack hosts Little Rock (1-0) on Friday, Nov. 16 night at 8 p.m. The Trojans play Tennessee State on Tuesday before traveling to Reno.
Fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman improved to 23-0 in home nonconference games and 45-5 overall at LEC. His career mark at Nevada stands at 83-29.
Senior Jordan Caroline scored 16 points bringing his career total at Nevada to 1,221 and moved him past Ken Green into 19th place on the Wolf Pack career scoring list. He needs 29 to pass Nap Montgomery for 18th.
Cody Martin posted his fifth career double finishing with 11 points and 10 assists. In two games he has 21 assists and just three turnovers.
For the second game in a row Caleb Martin was held scoreless in the first half but exploded for a game-high 22 in the second half. On Tuesday he had 21 second half points.
Junior Jazz Johnson has 12 points for the second game in a row.
Nevada had five players in double figures; Caleb Martin (22), Jordan Caroline (16), Tre'Shawn Thurman (14), Johnson (12) and Cody Martin (11).
Thurman a senior transfer scored in double figures for the first time with his 14 points and added five rebounds.
Freshman Jordan Brown led the Pack in rebounding finishing with seven and added five points to go along with three blocks.
The Pack knocked down 15-of-31 from behind the arc.
Nevada made 18 free throws while Pacific attempted just 14.
