RENO, Nevada (AP) Nevada honored its seniors in the Wolf Pack's final regular-season game - and the upperclassmen delivered an impressive victory.
Caleb Martin scored 25 points and twin brother Cody added 14 to lead No. 17 Nevada to an 81-53 rout of San Diego State on Saturday night that clinched a share of the Mountain West title with Utah State.
The Martin twins - both seniors - combined to shoot 12 of 19 and Nevada (28-3, 15-3 Mountain West) finished at 53.1 percent as a team. Jordan Caroline has 16 points and Trey Porter had 13.
''It means everything to share a moment with my Mom in town, people in town, playing with my brother one last time,'' Caleb Martin said. ''We couldn't have asked for a better ending to the regular season and the seniors to go out with a bang here - winning like that against a team that beat us.''
Nevada recognized the collegiate careers of seven basketball players - including six transfers - on Senior Night.
''I told them I loved them and thanked them for taking me and my family on this ride,'' Nevada coach Eric Musselman said of his seniors. ''Now with guys that have been with us for four years, it's just a lot different of an experience than coaching at the NBA level. I don't think after my last game with the (Sacramento) Kings I was hugging everybody, crying and telling them I loved them. I don't think that really happened with Metta World Peace, K-Mart and those guys.''
San Diego State had as many personal fouls as rebounds (25) - with one offensive rebound.
Nevada grabbed 42 boards and beat the Aztecs 26-12 in the paint. Nevada made 20 free throws to San Diego State's seven.
''You want to peak at the right time and I think that's what we are doing,'' Caroline said. ''We are trending upwards, especially at tournament time.''
The Wolf Pack jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the first five minutes in front of 11,243, but San Diego State answered with a 10-0 run in the final two minutes of the first half and entered the break trailing 42-37.
Nevada never trailed in the game and dominated the second half, outscoring San Diego State 39-16.
Jeremy Hemsley led San Diego State (19-12, 11-7) with 16 points. Matt Mitchell and Devin Watson each scored 14 for the Aztecs, who shot 34.6 percent as a team.
''Those seniors are relentless, especially the Martin twins and Caroline,'' Hemsley said. ''I have a lot of respect for them and I think they have a lot of respect for me, too. It's a great atmosphere. I wanted to cry just knowing it was my last night playing here. It's something you're going to miss, playing in front of fans like that, who know you're name and are going to talk trash to you.''
BIG PICTURE
SDSU: The Aztecs finished the season tied with UNLV for fourth place in the Mountain West and will enter the tournament as the fourth seed.
Nevada: The Wolf Pack got revenge for its 65-57 loss at San Diego State on Feb. 20, and broke its three-game losing streak against the Aztecs.
PERFECT AT LAWLOR, ATTENDANCE RECORD
Nevada finished the season 15-0 at Lawlor Events Center, and grabbed its 18th straight home victory, which tied a school record. Nevada's announced attendance of 11,243 pushed its season attendance to 163,169 - a program record.
BETTER AT HOME
The Wolf Pack's three losses this season came on the road against New Mexico, San Diego State and Utah State. Nevada beat each of those teams at home by a combined 244-164.
UP NEXT
SDSU: Plays Thursday against UNLV in the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas.
Nevada: Plays Thursday against the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 play-in game in the Mountain West Tournament. Nevada enters next week's conference tournament as the No. 1 seed because it owns a tiebreaker with Utah State: record against third-place Fresno State. ''Now it's free game,'' Caleb Martin said about the upcoming conference tournament. ''(We) ain't going to worry about no rankings anymore. Everybody is on the same level now. That's how I like it.''
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Game Notes:
No. 17/18 Nevada (28-3, 15-3 MW) improved to 28-3 and 15-3 in the Mountain West after its 81-53 victory over San Diego State (19-12, 11-7 MW) on Saturday night at Lawlor Events Center before 11,243 fans.
It is the 12th largest crowd in school history, ninth over 11,000 this season and ninth sellout of the year.
The Wolf Pack won its third consecutive MW title, joining San Diego State (2014, 2015, 2016) and BYU (2007, 2008, 2009) as the only MW schools to win three in a row.
The Pack earned the top seed in the MW Tournament and will play the winner of No. 8 Boise State (12-19) and No. 9 Colorado State (12-19) on Thursday at noon in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Those two will play on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Nevada has won its last 18 home games, all 15 this year and the final three last season. The 18 in a row is tied for the longest streak in school history. The first occurrence was the 15 games of the 2003-04 season and the first three games of the 2004-05 season.
The 18 game home streak is the fifth longest active streak in Division I.
The Pack posted a perfect 9-0 home MW record for the first time.
The 15-3 MW record tied the 2017-18 team for the best in school history.
The 28 wins is tied with the 2011-12 and 2016-17 team for the second most victories in school history. The school record is 29 by the 2006-07 and 2017-18 teams. The 28 for the second most in Division I.
The 28-3 record after 31 games is tied with the 2006-07 team for the best in Nevada history.
Nevada held SDSU to just 16 points in the second half. It is the lowest point total by an opponent in any half in head coach Eric Mussleman's four seasons.
Musselman improved to 109-32 at Nevada, 54-18 in MW games, 31-5 at home in MW games, and 58-5 at Lawlor Events Center.
Caleb Martin scored a game-high 25 points and it was his 15th time leading the team in scoring, 18th game of 20 or more points this year, 11th game posting a game high this season and 41st in his Pack career topping the team in scoring. He moved into 17th at Nevada with his 1,288 points in the Silver & Blue and has 1,839 in his college career. In addition to the game-high in points he had a game-high seven assists which tied his career high that first occurred at Utah earlier this season.
Jordan Caroline posted his 18th double-double of the season, 45th of his Pack career which is a MW record after finishing the game with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. It was the 23rd time this season he led the Pack in rebounding and 62nd time in his career at Nevada. It is the 18th time this season he post a game-high in rebounds.
Cody Martin's 14 points put in him double figures for a season-high fourth game in a row, 18th time this season and 43rd time as a Pack player.
Trey Porter was the fourth Nevada player in double figures with his 13 points. It was his ninth double figure scoring game of the season. Porter has scored 962 points in his college career.
Nevada honored its seven seniors prior to the game on Senior Night. Caroline, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin, Trey Porter, Tre'Shawn Thurman, David Cunningham and Corey Henson.
