PHOENIX (AP) Nevada had a short turnaround against a scrappy team with a loud fan base, even in what was technically a neutral-site game. The Wolf Pack stumbled out of the gate, had a hard time finding enough of an offensive rhythm to pull away.
Relying on grit and experience, Nevada pulled out a game when it wasn't at its best - a sure sign of a team that could make plenty of noise in March.
Jordan Caroline had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 6 Nevada used a late run to finally shake Grand Canyon for a 74-66 victory Sunday in the Colangelo Classic.
''Wasn't pretty; from our standpoint, it was our worst game of the year,'' Nevada coach Eric Musselman said. ''But our locker room is extremely happy.''
Nevada (10-0) had a short turnaround after playing No. 20 Arizona State late Friday night and found itself in what felt like a home environment for Grand Canyon.
Spurred by the road version of the rowdy Havocs student section, the Antelopes (5-4) held Nevada scoreless the opening 5 1/2 minutes and were within two at halftime.
Grand Canyon continued to keep the Wolf Pack within reach, rallying each time Nevada tried to run away with it. Nevada finally put it away in the final two minutes, going on a 9-0 run to go up 71-61.
Jazz Johnson had 19 points and Caleb Martin finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolf Pack, off to their best start of the program's Division I era (1969-70).
Trey Drechsel had 16 points and Alessandro Lever 13 for Grand Canyon.
''I expected us to play but to be honest, I'm tired of saying our team plays well and we lose,'' Grand Canyon coach Dan Majerle said. ''I don't care if it it's the No. 6 team or whatever. We have high expectations where we want to be as a program.''
The Wolf Pack got off to a shaky start against the Sun Devils on Friday in Los Angeles, falling into an 11-point hole before rallying in the second half for a 72-66 win.
Playing in what felt an Antelopes' home game, Nevada found itself down 11-0 in the opening five minutes while missing its first five shots.
The Wolf Pack looked as if they were ready to run away with it, going on a 16-5 run to go up 27-22. The Antelopes wouldn't let them get out of reach, pulling to 34-32 at halftime on Matt Johnson's last-second jumper.
Nevada used a short burst to take a seven-point lead, yet couldn't shake the Antelopes and their roar-with-every-basket student section before finally pulling it out.
''It felt like an away game; it was supposed to be `neutral site','' Caroline said. ''But I like playing in places like that.''
BIG PICTURE
Grand Canyon gave a Top 10 team all it could ask for, which should bode well for when the WAC season starts after the New Year.
''We keep emphasizing to our guys that we have to be the toughest team on the floor for 40 minutes all the time,'' Majerle said. ''And that's not going to change in the WAC. The WAC has some very good teams
Nevada had a short turnaround, played one of its worst games of the season in a hostile environment, yet still found a way to win.
SCHEDULE TWEAKING
Musselman and his staff had to alter their road schedule to accommodate the short turnaround from the late game Friday night in Southern California.
The players watched far less film, were given a five-hour break in the afternoon to take a nap and ate every meal at the hotel just so they would be ready to play early Sunday afternoon.
It probably won't happen again.
''I have to re-evaluate how I do things as well,'' Musselman said. ''I put the team in a predicament where it was playing in front of a student section like this easy against a team that's so well-coached in a short amount of time.''
CAROLINE'S IMPACT
Nevada rarely runs plays for Caroline, yet he's still its second-leading scorer and finds a way to have a big impact down the stretch.
Caroline helped the Wolf Pack break down Grand Canyon's zone from the middle of the floor and hit three big free throws during the game-deciding run.
''JC's toughness and will to win is as great as anybody I've ever been around,'' Musselman said.
UP NEXT
Nevada: Hosts South Dakota State on Saturday.
Grand Canyon: At Texas on Saturday.
Game Notes:
No. 6 Nevada improved to 10-0 defeating Grand Canyon (5-4) 74-66 in the Air Force Reserve Jerry Colangelo Classic at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix today.
The 10-0 start is the best in the Division I era for the Wolf Pack that began with the 1969-70 season.
Nevada hosts South Dakota State (8-3) on Saturday at Lawlor Events Center at 6 p.m.
The Wolf Pack just concluded a six-game stretch away from Reno and went 6-0.
Jordan Caroline was named the player of the game after posting his 34th career double-double finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Both were game highs. Caroline was named the player of the game on Friday in Los Angeles after scoring 16 points and had 14 rebounds to lead the Pack in both categories in a 72-66 victory over No. 20 Arizona State at STAPLES Center.
Caroline moved into 13th on the Nevada scoring list passing former teammate D.J. Fenner and now has 1,366 in the Silver & Blue and 1669 in his career when you include the 303 he scored at Southern Illinois.
Wolf Pack head coach Eric Musselman won his 91st game at Nevada which ties Len Stevens (1987-93) for seventh most in school history. Next on the list is David Carter's 98.
Caleb Martin and Caroline have scored in double figures in all 10 games this season.
The Pack had four players scored in double figures; Caroline (22), Jazz Johnson (19), Caleb Martin (13), and Cody Martin (12).
Caleb Martin posted his first double-double of the season and third of his Pack career as he finished with a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with his 13 points.
Nevada improved to 67-16 when ranked in the Associated Press top 25.
