LAS VEGAS (AP) Caleb Martin had 26 points and six rebounds in leading No. 8 Nevada to an 87-70 victory over UNLV on Tuesday night.
Since losing at New Mexico on Jan. 5, the Wolf Pack (20-1, 7-1 Mountain West) have won six straight - five by double digits. Nevada has outscored its opponents by an average of 20.3 points during the streak.
The Runnin' Rebels (11-9, 5-3) lost their second in a row and third in five games.
Jordan Caroline added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Nevada, his 12th double-double of the season. Cody Martin chipped in with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Kris Clyburn paced UNLV with 23 points and eight rebounds. Amauri Hardy scored 17.
Nevada turned 14 UNLV turnovers into 14 points and outscored the Rebels 15-10 in fast-break points.
Nevada used a first-half shooting spree to put the game away early, dominating inside and having its way with its archrival. The Wolf Pack opened a 13-6 lead and extended the spread to 12 after completing a 9-2 run midway through the half.
Later in the first half, Nevada set the tone for the blowout with a 13-1 spurt to move ahead 36-17 before taking a 48-26 lead into the locker room behind 48.4 percent shooting (15 of 31). Nevada also shot 5 of 13 from 3-point range and was 13 for 16 at the free throw line in the first half.
And while the Wolf Pack were pulling away in the opening period, the Runnin' Rebels never found a rhythm, forcing shots from the perimeter and making desperate drives into the paint. Some shots fell, but most didn't, as UNLV looked beleaguered against Nevada's bigger lineup.
The Rebels shot 10 for 33 from the field, including an abysmal 0 for 12 from 3-point range, while falling behind by 22 at halftime.
BIG PICTURE
Nevada: Caroline is averaging 18.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He has 39 double-doubles in his Nevada career, fourth in school history. The Wolf Pack are 37-2 when he posts a double-double.
UNLV: The Runnin' Rebels struggled to get support from their reserves, as Nevada outscored UNLV's bench 19-14. UNLV's backups were 4 for 10 from the field, a huge factor once Joel Ntambwe and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua picked up their fourth fouls.
UP NEXT
Nevada: The Wolf Pack look to avoid a hangover after this blowout win when they host Boise State on Saturday. The Broncos will be seeking revenge after Nevada escaped Boise with a one-point victory in the first meeting on Jan. 15.
UNLV: Plays at Utah State on Saturday. UNLV is 3-5 away from home, including 2-3 in true road games.
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Game Notes:
No. 7/8 Nevada (20-1, 7-1 MW) improved to 20-1 and 7-1 in Mountain West play after defeating intrastate rival UNLV (11-9, 5-3 MW) tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center before season-high 15,786 fans.
Nevada hosts Boise State (10-11, 5-3) on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT. The Wolf Pack won the first meeting 72-71 at BSU on a late Cody Martin 3-pointer.
The Wolf Pack leads the MW with a 7-1 record.
Nevada has won 20 games for the fourth time under fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman. Only Mark Fox (2004-09) has more 20 wins season at Nevada with five in his five years leading the Pack.
The Pack has won its last six games and last three from UNLV.
The 20-1 start is the best in school history after 21 games.
Musselman improved to 101-30 at Nevada and 6-2 vs. UNLV,
The Pack is just one of five one loss teams in Division I and three teams with 20 wins.
Musselman improved to 46-16 in MW play, 20-11 on the road.
Jordan Caroline posted his 12th double-double of the season and 39th of his career finishing with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Pack is 37-2 when Caroline has a double-double.
Caroline has scored in double figures in all 21 games this season.
Caleb Martin scored a game-high 26 points. It was his 10th game of 20 or more points this season which leads the team and includes his career-high 33 at Utah.
Caleb Martin scored his 1600th career point and has 1,619 in his college career which includes his time at North Carolina State. He moved up two spots on Nevada's career scoring list passing Dwayne Randall (1984-86) and Matt Williams (1987-91) into 25th on the Wolf Pack scoring list with his 1,068 points. Next on the list is Cameron Oliver's (2015-17) 1,071.
Cody Martin scored 10 points and is four points from 1,000 in his career which includes his time at North Carolina State.
Jazz Johnson was the fifth Pack player in double figures finishing with 11 points on the night.
All 10 players that made the trip saw action in the game.
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