Nevada (22-7) vs. Wyoming (8-20)
Monday, February 27 - 6 PM – Arena-Auditorium
TV: CBSSN (Carter Blackburn // Pete Gillen)
Radio: 94.5 FM/The Varsity Network (John Ramey)
Listen: https://bit.ly/3ECUnSv
Live Stream: https://bit.ly/3xW8G0U
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3KI8YQE
RENO, Nev. - After a 60-56 hard-fought road victory over Fresno State in which their defensive prowess was on full display, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will travel to Laramie, Wyoming to take on the Wyoming Cowboys Monday night seeking a third consecutive victory.
A road win over the Cowboys would mark Nevada's 23rd victory of the season and clinch a winning record in away games this year, as the Pack is currently 6-6 in true road contests.
Nevada is coming off of a strenuous victory at Fresno State where they turned in an exceptional defensive performance, limiting the Bulldogs to woeful shooting clips of 37.5 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from behind the arc. The Pack forced Fresno State into 17 turnovers and matched a season-high by recording 12 steals in what was an exceptional display of basketball on the defensive end of the court.
Will Baker led the Pack in scoring, putting up 13 points in the contest on 5-10 shooting from the field.
Baker enters Monday night's matchup ranked second in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (56.3%), fifth in free throw percentage (83.7%), and 14th in points per game (14.1 PPG).
Baker has elevated his game in conference play this season, as he holds averages of 15.4 points per game on 58.7 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent from behind the arc, while also pulling down 5.2 boards per contest against Mountain West opponents this season.
Kenan Blackshear had another stellar all-around performance against Fresno State, as his versatility was on full display. The senior scored 11 points on an efficient 4-7 shooting from the field and 1-1 from behind the arc; while also dishing out a game-high six assists, pulling down three rebounds, and recording three steals.
The do-it-all point guard continues to rank in the top-15 of the Mountain West in numerous individual statistical categories this season. Blackshear is currently third in the conference in assists per game (4.8 APG), sixth in steals per game (1.6 SPG), seventh in field goal percentage (46.5%), 11th in points per game (14.6 PPG), 12th in free throw percentage (77.9%), and 12th in minutes per game (32.4 MPG).
Blackshear ranks second on the team in total scoring this season (422 points) and he enters Monday's game sitting just nine points shy of reaching the 1,000-point scoring mark for his career.
Junior forward Tré Coleman spearheaded Nevada's defensive effort on Friday night against Fresno State, turning in a sensational performance in which he recorded a career-high five steals in the first half alone. Coleman also tallied one block and he has now recorded at least one steal in nine straight games and at least one block in nine of the Pack's past 10 games.
Coleman has continued to rise in the conference rankings throughout the season, and he currently ranks ninth in the Mountain West in blocked shots (27) and 11th in steals (33).
Jarod Lucas scored eight points in the win over Fresno State on Friday. Lucas also finished second on the team with five rebounds, dished out two assists, and recorded one steal.
The senior sharpshooter continues to rank toward the top of the conference in a multitude of individual statistical categories. Lucas is second in the Mountain West in made 3-pointers (72), third in free throw percentage (86.1%), sixth in points per game (16.5 PPG), and sixth in minutes per game (34.0 MPG).
Freshman Darrion Williams put together another stat stuffing night against the Bulldogs, scoring 10 points on 4-10 shooting from the field, while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds, and recording two steals. Williams has now led Nevada in rebounding in 16 of 29 games this season. Williams ranks first on the team and fourth overall in the Mountain West in rebounds per game, as the freshman is pulling down an average of 7.2 boards per contest. Williams also ranks seventh in the league in steals per game, averaging 1.5 per contest.
Nevada received tremendous production off the bench from Hunter McIntosh, Nick Davidson, and Daniel Foster in their win over Fresno State.
McIntosh, playing in just his second game of the season after returning from a preseason injury, scored six points while draining two critical 3-pointers. He finished the contest with a plus/minus of +4 in 13 minutes of action.
Davidson scored five points and earned a game-high plus/minus of +11 in 14 minutes of playing time; while Foster scored two points and pulled down four rebounds, three of which came on the offensive glass. Foster also tallied one steal and the junior finished the game with a plus/minus of +9 in 16 minutes of game time.
As a team, Nevada continues to rank at the top of the Mountain West in a plethora of defensive statistical categories, as they have done all season. The Pack is currently second in opponent field goal percentage (41.6%), fourth in opponent points per game (65.9 PPG), fourth in defensive rebounding (26.0 per game), fourth in turnovers forced (371), fifth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.4%), and fifth in steals per game (6.2 SPG).
Offensively, Nevada's numbers have greatly improved in Mountain West play this season. In conference play, the Pack currently ranks first in the league in free throw percentage (80.5%), fourth in points per game (72.5 PPG), fourth in field goal percentage (46.6%), fourth in assists per game (14.1), and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5%).
Nevada owns a record of 6-6 in true road contests this season, and they will face a Wyoming team that has been much better on their home court than on the road this season, as the Pack will seek to improve to 23-7 overall and 13-4 in Mountain West play this year.
Scouting Wyoming
Wyoming enters Monday night's matchup with an overall record of 8-20 and a mark of 3-13 in Mountain West play.
The Cowboys have won six of their eight games this season on their home court, as they have fared much better at the Arena-Auditorium than on the road.
Wyoming has been led by 2021-22 First-Team All-Mountain West honoree, Hunter Maldonado. Maldonado is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the conference, as he enters Monday's game ninth in the league in scoring, putting up 14.9 points per game 48.7 percent shooting from the field and 32.3 percent from behind the arc. Maldonado also leads the team in assists (3.9 APG), rebounds (4.7 RPG), and steals (1.4 SPG).
Outside of Maldonado, Brendan Wenzel, Jeremiah Oden, and Hunter Thompson have been strong contributors for the Cowboys this season.
Wenzel is averaging 8.5 points per game while knocking down 40.2 percent of his shots from behind the arc this season, in addition to pulling down 4.0 boards per game.
Oden is also averaging 8.5 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from the field and 32.5 percent from 3-point range, and he is grabbing 3.7 rebounds per game.
Thompson has continued to improve throughout the season, and he enters Monday's game holding averages of 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Nevada will look to have another impressive defensive performance against the Cowboys and win the rebounding battle, as they hope to earn their 23rd victory of the season.
Series History
Nevada and Wyoming have faced off 22 times throughout history with the Cowboys owning a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series. Wyoming earned a 74-61 victory in the most recent matchup between the two teams in February of 2022.
Follow The Pack
Follow Nevada Men's Basketball on social media at @NevadaHoops (Twitter), @nevadahoops (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaMBB.
