NEVADA VS. BOWLING GREEN PREVIEW

SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The University of Nevada (4-3) defeated Valparaiso (4-2) 84-59 on Sunday and Bowling Green (5-1) knocked off Cincinnati (3-2) in overtime 91-84 to advance the championship game of the Paradise Jam.   The Wolf Pack and Falcons will play for the title at 5 p.m. PT on Monday at the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.  The 2019 Paradise Jam is the 20th year of the event.

First-year head coach Steve Alford is seeking his second Paradise Jam championship after leading his 2012 New Mexico squad to the title.  The Lobos defeated of No. 21/23 UConn 66-60 in the championship game.  Alford would become the first coach to win two Paradise Jam titles.

BGSU has won its last four games heading into Monday's contest.  The Falcons are led by Justin Turner's 19 points per game.  Dylan Frye (15.5 ppg) and Daeqwon Plowden (10 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.  Tayler Mattos tops the team averaging 7.8 rebounds per game.

Winners of its last two games, Nevada has four players scoring in double figures led by senior Jazz Johnson's 17.7 points per game.  Junior Jalen Harris, the MVP of the Pack's two games at the Paradise Jam, is averaging 15.5 points per game and tops the team grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game.  Seniors Lindsey Drew (14.4 ppg) and Nisré Zouzoua (10.9 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.

In the two games at the Paradise Jam Harris is averaging 23.5 points, six rebounds and six assists.  He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from behind the arc.  Johnson is scoring 16.5 points per game contest and is 8-of-15 from behind the arc. Zouzoua is scoring 13 points per game and has made 6-of-10 from behind the arc.  As a team Nevada is shooting 48.3 percent and 42.6 percent on hits 3-pointers.

THE SERIES
Monday's game with Bowing Green will be the first meeting between the two schools.  Alford is 2-0 in his career against the Falcons.

ON THE AIR

HOW TO FOLLOW NEVADA AT THE PARADISE JAM
All games of the Paradise Jam will be streamed by FLOHOOPS.  The cost is $29.99 per month as there are no single game options.  Pack fans will need to sign up for a one month subscription and decide whether to continue with the subscription at the end of the Paradise Jam.  A yearly subscription is $150 which averages $12.50 per month.

The games will be available on 94.5 FM in northern Nevada with Alex Margulies calling the action.  Pregame starts 30 minutes prior to tip.  Online audio is available at TuneIn.com or with the TuneIn App.  

Live stats will be available for all three Wolf Pack games in the Paradise Jam. 

Important links to follow the Wolf Pack:
Paradise Jam Online audio:
Paradise Jam online video stream: ​​​​​​​
Paradise Jam online live stats: ​​​​​​​
Paradise Jam website: ​​​​​​​

HARRIS ON FIRE

Junior Jalen Harris suffered a foot injury in the season-opener versus Utah and played just 8 minutes.  Harris missed the LMU game but has hit his stride the last four games scoring in double figures three times and netting nine points in the other game.
    
In the UT Arlington game he scored a game-high 24 points, two off his career high of 26 that came during his time at Louisiana Tech.  At Davidson he netted 13 points and had a game-high 22 versus Fordham.  In the Fordham game he posted game-highs with 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes while committing just one turnover.  In game two at the Paradise Jam he scored a Pack high 25 points, tied for game honors with six rebounds and dished out a game-high five assists.

JOHNSON CONTINUES HOT OFFENSIVE STREAK
    
Wolf Pack senior Jazz Johnson is starting his senior season with explosive offensive numbers averaging a team-high 18 points per game.  The 17.7 points per game ranks fifth in the Mountain West.
    
Johnson is the only Pack player to score in double figures in every game this season and has two 20-point games.  The first 20-point contest was in the win over LMU and the second was a game-high 26 points in the USC game.  The 26 points is one shy of his career-high of 27 points set last season at Air Force.  In the other two games he scored 16 points.  He made six 3-pointers against the Trojans, one off his career-high of seven that he had in the Air Force game.
    
He ranks in the top 50 in six NCAA statistical categories.  Seventh with 21 made 3-pointers and ninth with 51 attempted.  His 3.5 made 3s per game is 17th.  Johnson is 29th with 83 attempted field goals, 30 with 108 points and 48th with 36 made field goals.  In five of six games he has made three or more 3-pointers.
    
From behind the arc he is shooting 43.1 percent which ranks third in the MW.  Overall he is connecting on 43.2 percent of his field goals to rank seventh in the MW.
    
He has scored 1,226 points in his career with 740 coming in his two years at Portland.

LAST TIME OUT

NEVADA ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP OF PARADISE JAM WITH 84-59 VICTORY OVER VALPO

SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) Jalen Harris tossed in a season-high 25 points and added six rebounds, five assists and two steals to propel Nevada to an 84-59 victory over Valparaiso on Sunday at the Paradise Jam.
    
Harris knocked down 9 of 15 shots from the floor for the Wolf Pack (4-3), who shot 52 percent overall. Jazz Johnson scored 16, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range, as Nevada buried 43.5% from distance (10 of 23). Nisre Zouzoua came off the bench to score 15 and fellow reserve Zane Meeks pitched in with 11 points and four boards. Lindsey Drew contributed 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
    
Javon Freeman-Liberty led the Crusaders (4-2) with 21 points. Reserve John Kiser added nine points and six rebounds. Valparaiso made just 22 of 58 shots overall (38%), including 3 of 19 from distance (16%).


UP NEXT: SANTA CLARA

Nevada returns home to host Santa Clara (5-1) on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center.  The Broncos are off to a 5-1 start and will play three games in the Cable Car Classic before traveling to Reno to face the Wolf Pack.  

SCU will play Denver on Wednesday followed by Southeast Missouri State Saturday and concluded the event with a game on Saturday with Cal State Fullerton.

To purchase tickets call 775-348-PACK or go to NevadaWolfPack.com.