Nevada (8-3) vs. UC San Diego (4-5)

Wednesday, Dec. 13

Reno, Nev. - Lawlor Events Center

TV: NSN/Mountain West Network

Radio: ESPN 94.5 FM (John Ramey/Len Stevens) // The Varsity Network app

Live Stream: https://bit.ly/3WcZAXB

Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2EJNfGO

RENO, Nev. - Following three consecutive road games, the University of Nevada Men's Basketball team will return home to host UC San Diego Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Pack's annual Holiday Game.

Wednesday night's game will also serve as the University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe Day. The national anthem will be performed by local musician and former Nevada Ski Team member Eric Andersen, and the current Ski Team will be recognized during the game. 

All fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears to toss at halftime, as the Men's Basketball team is scheduled to visit the Children's Hospital at Renown Health to drop off all teddy bears collected at the game to the hospital's patients. The first 1,000 fans to arrive at Lawlor Events Center on Wednesday will receive a free ugly-sweater t-shirt.

Game Preview

Nevada returns to the Lawlor Events Center for the first time in over two weeks to face UC San Diego. The Pack has played seven of their past eight games away from home, and they will seek to remain unbeaten at Lawlor this season against an athletic UC San Diego team Wednesday night. 

Nevada will also strive to get back in the win column after falling on the road against Oregon this past Saturday.

Kenan Blackshear led the Pack in scoring, pouring in 20 points throughout the game, in addition to pulling down five rebounds and tallying a game-high three steals. Blackshear was perfect at the line against Oregon, knocking down all 10 of his free throw attempts in the contest, marking a new career-high. Blackshear continues to lead the team and the Mountain West Conference in assists per game this year, as the senior guard is dishing out 5.3 per contest. Blackshear also ranks in the top 20 of the conference in points per game (17th), rebounds (13th), steals (16th), minutes (9th), and free throw percentage (7th). Over Nevada's past two games, Blackshear is averaging 21.0 points on 40 percent shooting from three (2-5) and a mark of 94.1 percent from the free throw line (16-17), while also grabbing 4.0 rebounds, dishing out 3.0 assists, and tallying 1.5 steals per game.

Jarod Lucas also had a solid outing for the Pack against Oregon, scoring 16 points while knocking down three of eight shots from three. Lucas has now scored in double figures in 10 out of 11 contests this year, in addition to making multiple 3-pointers in 10 out of 11 games. He ranks first in the Mountain West in total points this season (189), third in points per game (17.2), third in 3-point field goal percentage (41.0%), and second in free throw percentage (89.1%).

Freshman forward Darrion Williams also had a strong performance against Oregon, scoring six points to go along with a team-high six rebounds and five assists. Williams has been sensational on the glass all season for Nevada, as he currently ranks first on the team and seventh in the conference in rebounding, averaging 6.9 boards per game. Williams also ranks seventh in the Mountain West in steals per game (1.9).

As a team, Nevada has been phenomenal from the free throw line all season, and they currently rank first in the Mountain West and ninth in the entire country in free throw percentage (79.4%). The Pack has six different players who are shooting 80 percent or better from the line this year. 

Nevada has maintained their strong play on the defensive end of the court, as they continue to rank in the top five of the Mountain West in the following categories: opponent points per game (5th), opponent field goal percentage (2nd), opponent 3-point field goal percentage (4th), defensive rebounding (4th), blocked shots (4th), and assist/turnover ratio (4th). 

The Pack are holding their opponents to an abysmal shooting clip of 37.8 percent from the field, ranking 19th best in the nation.

A win on Wednesday evening would elevate Nevada to 9-3 on the season, marking the best start through 12 games during Head Coach Steve Alford's time at the helm of the program. 

A stingy and athletic UC San Diego team stands in the way of the Pack's ninth victory of the season and fifth at the Lawlor Events Center.

Scouting UC San Diego

UC San Diego holds an overall record of 4-5 this season, earning victories over Cal, George Washington, Eastern Michigan, and Bethesda.

The Tritons are led by redshirt-junior guard Bryce Pope, who is averaging a team-high 19.0 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.2 percent from three. Pope's 19.0 points per game rank as the third highest in the Big West Conference this season.

Roddie Anderson III ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game and first in assists (3.2 APG). J'Raan Brooks, a transfer from the University of Washington, is third on the team in both scoring (9.9 PPG) and rebounding this season (6.0 RPG).

As a team, the Tritons have struggled to score outside the paint this season, as they are shooting just 27.9 percent from behind the arc this year. 

The Pack will need to control the paint throughout the contest and continue their exceptional play on the defensive end of the court in order to earn their ninth victory of the year and remain unbeaten at home this season.

Series History

Wednesday night's contest will mark the first time that Nevada has faced UC San Diego on the court throughout history.

Single-Game Tickets on Sale Now 

Single-game tickets for Nevada men's basketball home contests are available at www.mynevadatickets.com. Fans may also purchase single-game tickets for the season by phone at 775-348-PACK (7225). Those who have questions or need assistance may also contact the ticket office by phone or by emailing wolfpackticketinfo@unr.edu. 

Follow The Pack 

Follow Nevada Men's Basketball on social media at @NevadaHoops (Twitter), @nevadahoops (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaMBB.