Nevada (2-0) vs. Pacific (1-1)

Wednesday, Nov. 15 - 7 p.m.

Reno, Nev. - Lawlor Events Center

TV: NSN // Mountain West Network

Radio: KNEV 95.5 // The Varsity Network App (John Ramey // Len Stevens)  

Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/auLNS 

Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/gjT12

RENO, Nev. - After earning a massive seven-point road win over Pac-12 foe Washington to improve to 2-0 for the second consecutive season, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will return to Lawlor Events Center Wednesday night to host Pacific in what will be another early-season test for the Pack.

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be available for viewing on Nevada Sports Net as well as the Mountain West Network. Fans can listen over the radio beginning with a pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip-off on KNEV 95.5 FM or through the Varsity Network app.  

Wednesday's contest will serve as Nevada Basketball's Diabetes Awareness Night. 

Nevada will aim to begin the season with three consecutive victories for the second straight year, however, a talented Pacific team fresh off a victory at California stands in the way, as the Pack will seek to maintain their impressive start to the season on Wednesday night.  

Nevada is coming off a highly impressive win at Washington, in which the Pack scored 44 points in the paint and had just six turnovers, as they defeated the Huskies by a final score of 83-76. 

The Pack struggled from behind the 3-point line, knocking down just two of their 14 attempts from behind the arc; but, Nevada scored at will in the paint and once again did an exceptional job of getting to the free throw line and converting those opportunities. The Pack knocked down 21 of their 26 free throw attempts for a clip of 80.8 percent.  

Nevada has been sensational at taking care of the ball this season, as they have a combined 13 turnovers in two games this season. The Pack ranks third in the Mountain West and tied for 26th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.92). Nevada also leads the Mountain West in turnover margin (+5.5).

Nevada was stellar in defending the 3-point line, as they limited Washington to just 29.2 percent shooting from behind the arc (7-24) in the contest. The Pack also did a solid job of keeping an athletic Washington team off the offensive glass, holding the Huskies to just eight offensive boards.

Individually, Kenan Blackshear was phenomenal in Nevada's win at Washington, scoring a career-high 31 points on 12-22 shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down six rebounds and dishing out a team-high five assists. Blackshear's 12 made field goals also marked a new career-high. The fifth-year senior was named the Mountain West Player of the Week for the first time in his career for his sensational play across the Pack's 2-0 start.

Blackshear currently ranks second in the Mountain West in scoring (22.5 PPG), tied for tenth in assists (4.0 APG), tied for 12th in field goal percentage (52.9%), and tied for 12th in rebounding (6.5 RPG). 

Redshirt-sophomore Nick Davidson also had a tremendous outing at Washington, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds, three of which came on the offensive glass. Davidson has been outstanding for the Pack this year, as he enters Wednesday's contest first on the team in rebounding (7.0 RPG) and third in scoring (11.5 PPG).  

Senior forward Tre Coleman had another stellar all-around outing in the Pack's win at Washington, scoring eight points and pulling down a career-high nine rebounds. Coleman also dished out two assists and tallied one steal, while finishing the contest with a plus/minus of +7. 

Hunter McIntosh once again provided a significant impact off the bench for Nevada, bringing instant offense to the floor for the second consecutive game. McIntosh scored eight points on a highly efficient 3-4 shooting from the field, including 1-2 from behind the arc, and the graduate student also managed to pull down four rebounds in the game.

Through two games this season, McIntosh is drilling 66.7 percent of his field goal attempts and drilling 3-pointers at a 60 percent clip. 

Jarod Lucas did not have his best shooting night in the win against Washington, however, he still managed to score 13 points, while making all six of his free throw attempts. Through two games, Lucas is averaging 15.5 points per game and is a perfect 15-15 from the free throw line. 

K.J. Hymes had a strong impact on the game against Washington in limited minutes, scoring four points on 2-2 shooting from the field, and completing the contest with a plus/minus of +7 in 11 minutes of action. Hymes is averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game this season.

Nevada will aim to have another solid offensive outing, and limit Pacific's 3-point shooting on Wednesday night, as the Tigers have been effective from behind the arc this season. 

Scouting Pacific

Pacific is coming off an impressive eight-point victory at California in which they shot 49.2 percent from the field (29-59), including an immaculate clip of 50 percent from behind the arc (13-26).

The Tigers have been exceptional at distributing the basketball this season, as they currently rank tied for 60th in the country in assists per game (17.5 APG). 

Individually, Donovan Williams has led the way for Pacific offensively, as the Oklahoma State transfer is putting up 18.5 points per game on 56.5 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from behind the arc through contests for the Tigers. Williams is also pulling down 4.5 rebounds per game and has accumulated four steals this year. The senior is coming off a 23-point performance in Pacific's win over Cal. 

The Tigers have relied on a variety of different players for offensive contributions outside of Williams, as six different players are averaging at least 5.5 points per game. Senior forward Judson Martindale has been impressive through two games off the bench for Pacific, as he is averaging 11.5 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc. 

Senior guard Lesown Hallums Jr. has also had a solid start to the season for Pacific, posting averages of 7.0 points per game on 53.8 percent shooting from the field for the Tigers. 

Pacific will aim to push the pace of the game and do significant damage from behind the arc, as they have attempted 50 3-pointers through two contests this season. 

Nevada will need to have another stellar defensive performance and dominate the paint as they have done in each of their two wins this season. 

Series History 

Nevada and Pacific have faced off 42 times throughout history, with Pacific leading the all-time series 25-17. The Pack has won five consecutive contests in the series, most recently earning a 12 points victory over the Tigers in December 2020.  

Follow The Pack   

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