ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Sparked by another standout game from Jalen Harris, who scored 26 with nine rebounds, Nevada beat New Mexico 88-74 on Tuesday night.
It was a game that marked the first return to the Pit of former Lobos coaches Steve Alford, who left New Mexico to coach UCLA before ending up at Reno, Nev., and Craig Neal, who replaced Alford with the Lobos, before getting fired after four years and joining Alford with the Wolf Pack.
Both were booed heartily at their entrance to the arena.
While New Mexico showed an intensity that has been missing of late, a 13-3 Wolf Pack run late in the first half turned a 30-30 game into a 43-33 Nevada lead.
The Lobos never really threatened from there, getting no closer than 49-42 early in the second half.
Jazz Johnson added 15 points, including his 1,500th career point, for Nevada (17-10, 10-5 Mountain West Conference), which has won four straight.
Vance Jackson had 25 for New Mexico (17-11, 6-9).
Lindsey Drew scored 14 points with six rebounds and four assists to become the first Wolf Pack player in program history with 900 points, 600 rebounds and 500 assists in his career.
Harris came into the game averaging 32 points a game over his last five.
BIG PICTURE
Nevada: The win moves the Wolf Pack into a second-place tie with Utah State. It is a key spot in which to be as every team is striving to be in the bracket opposite No. 4 San Diego State, which Nevada has to play at home in the regular season finale Feb. 29.
New Mexico: The Lobos continue to stumble along and now have lost three of four at home after starting the home slate 13-0. New Mexico is in danger of dropping to the bottom half of the conference tournament play-in bracket.
UP NEXT:
Nevada: The Wolf Pack is home Feb. 22 against Fresno State.
New Mexico: The Lobos are at Boise State on Feb. 23.
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Game Notes:
Nevada (17-10, 10-5 MW) improved to 17-10 and 10-5 in Mountain West play after winning 88-74 at New Mexico (17-11, 6-9 MW) before 12,032 fans at the Pit Tuesday night.
Nevada hosts Fresno State (9-16, 5-9 MW) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs host Air Force on Wednesday night.
The win moved the Wolf Pack into a tie for second place with Utah State in the MW standings.
The win was the first for Wolf Pack head coach Steve Alford at the Pit and the second of the year as the Pack won 96-74 in Reno earlier this season. Alford coached at UNM for six seasons and won 155 games coaching the Lobos.
Nevada leads the series 8-7 and has won seven of the last eight meetings
The Pack has won its last four games with the last two coming on the road. Three of the four have been by double figures.
Lindsey Drew became the first player at Nevada with 900 points, 600 rebounds and 500 assists after his four assists tonight. Drew scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in 32 minutes tonight. In 126 games he has scored 928 points, grabbed 631 rebounds, and dished out 501 assists. He is just the third Nevada player with 500 career assists. Drew has made 120 starts which moved him past Nick Fazekas (2004-07) in to third. He has played in 91 victories which ranks fourth in school history. The senior guard also has 162 assists to rank sixth at Nevada.
Junior Jalen Harris scored had game highs with 26 points and nine rebounds. It was the14th time he posted a game-high this season in points and sixth time in rebounds. Harris has scored in double figures the last 23 games, posted his 16th game of 20 or more points, led the Pack in scoring for the 18th time and scored in double figures for the 24th time this season.
Jazz Johnson scored his 1,500th career point tonight, 740 of the points came in two seasons at Portland. Johnson scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season after his 15 tonight. He made 3-of-9 3s marking his 18th game of the season making three or more 3-poingers.
Freshman Zane Meeks scored in double figures for the first time in five games finishing with 14 points. Meeks made 4-of-7 from behind the arc. The four made 3s tied his season high. It was his eighth game of double figures.
Nevada won the rebounding battle by 42-35.
The Pack made 13-of-34 3-pointers marking the 10th time in the last 13 games and 18th time this season Nevada has made 10 or more 3s in a game.
For tickets for home games call 775-348-PACK or go to NevadaWolfPack.com
