LARAMIE, Wyo. – Despite holding the lead for over 25 minutes throughout the game, the Nevada Men's Basketball team struggled offensively down the stretch, as they were outscored 22-9 over the final 6:36 of game time, resulting in an 80-71 loss at the hands of Wyoming.

After the loss, Nevada now owns an overall record of 22-8 this season, including a mark of 12-5 in Mountain West play.

Jarod Lucas and Tre Coleman led the way for the Pack, turning in immaculate performances in which they combined to score 46 points on 14-23 shooting from the field and 7-12 from behind the arc.

After failing to reach double figures in scoring in Nevada's past three games after accomplishing the feat in 24 consecutive contests prior, Lucas had an exceptional performance tonight, dropping a team-high 24 points on 6-11 shooting from the field, 3-6 from behind the arc, and 9-10 from the free throw line.  

Coleman had one of the best performances of his career, pouring in a career-high 22 points on an exceptional 8-12 shooting from the field and 4-6 from behind the arc. The eight field goals made also set a new career-high, and the four 3-pointers he made matched a career-high. Coleman also pulled down three rebounds and tallied one block throughout the game, marking the tenth time in Nevada's past 11 games that he has recorded at least one block.

Will Baker also had a solid night for the Pack, scoring 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, while also pulling down six rebounds, matching a career-high by recording three assists and tallying two steals.

Freshman Darrion Williams pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, marking the 17th time this season that he has led the Pack in rebounding, and Kenan Blackshear dished out a team-high five assists in the contest.

First Half

Nevada, and Coleman in particular, had a phenomenal start to the game, as the Pack jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest after hitting three of their first four shots.

Coleman started off the game by finishing a tough layup at the rim before drilling a 3-pointer on Nevada's next possession. Baker then hit a hook shot in the paint to put the Pack up 7-0.

Wyoming knocked down a 3-pointer to stop the run; but, Coleman pulled another shot from behind the arc that found the bottom of the net, giving Nevada a 10-3 lead at the 17:31 mark.

The Cowboys responded by ripping off a 10-2 run over the next 2:55 to take their first lead of the game, as they held a 13-12 advantage over the Pack.

Wyoming's lead lasted for just 20 seconds, as Lucas drilled a contested 3-pointer, recapturing the lead for Nevada.

Baker earned a steal on the other end of the court after Lucas' triple, and Coleman continued his blazing start, draining a mid-range to push Nevada's lead up to five, as they held an 18-13 advantage at the 13:46 mark in the first half.

The Cowboys scored a bucket on the other end to cut Nevada's lead to five; however, Lucas hit another 3-pointer to put the Pack up 21-15.

The Pack held at least a four-point advantage over the next six minutes before two Cowboy free throws shrank Nevada's lead to two points with 7:04 left until halftime.

Coleman continued to have an answer each time Wyoming made a push to retake the lead, knocking down a pair of free throws on Nevada's next offensive possession.

Wyoming scored another bucket to come within two on their next possession; but, Coleman continued his tremendous first half, hitting another pull-up jumper to put the Pack up 31-27 with 5:50 to go until halftime.

Wyoming used a quick 6-2 run over the next minute and 31 seconds to tie the game at 33 points apiece for the first time since it was 0-0.

After the two squads went scoreless over the next two minutes, Lucas broke the drought with a difficult mid-range jump shot.

Wyoming went on to outscore the Pack 7-2 over the final stretch of the first half, as Nevada entered halftime facing a 40-37 deficit.

Second Half

Wyoming began the second period by drilling a 3-pointer 18 seconds into the half to increase their lead to six; however, back-to-back buckets from Blackshear and Coleman brought the Pack within two.

The Cowboys hit a pair of free throws to extend their lead back to four; but, Coleman continued his offensive explosion, finishing another layup to trim the deficit to just two points once again, as Nevada trailed 43-45 with 18:16 remaining in the game.

A Wyoming 3-pointer exactly a minute and a half later pushed the Cowboys lead back to five at the 16:58 mark. Nevada responded once again, as Lucas splashed a 3-pointer. After a defensive stop, Baker knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 48-48 with just under 16 minutes to go.

Baker then earned another steal and finished at the rim to retake the lead for Nevada. The Pack picked up another stop on defense, and Blackshear found Coleman open, who proceeded to drill another 3-pointer, marking a 10-0 run for the Pack that put them ahead 53-48 with 15:09 left to go.

Nevada maintained the lead for the next 5:46; but, they were unable to create any separation, never leading by more than five points over that stretch.

The Cowboys tied the game once again at the 9:23 mark on an and-one layup and converted the free throw to take a point lead over the Pack, as Nevada trailed 56-57.

After another two-minute scoring drought for both teams, Baker finished a layup at the rim to recapture the lead for Nevada.

Williams tallied a steal on the other end of the floor and then hit a shot in the paint to put the Pack up 60-57 with 7:05 to go.

Wyoming hit a lone free throw 17 seconds later to cut Nevada's lead to two points; but, Blackshear hit a mid-range jump shot to put the Pack up four with 6:36 to go.

Nevada's offense then went cold over the remainder of the contest, as they made just one field goal the rest of the game, going on to fall to the Cowboys on the road by a final score of 80-71.

Notable Stats:

•  Nevada shot 45.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from behind the arc in the first half.

• Nevada was +8 in turnover margin.

• The Pack knocked down 14-17 shots at the free-throw line.

• Nevada recorded eight steals throughout the game.

• The Pack scored 22 points off of 17 Wyoming turnovers.

• Nevada's 61 field goal attempts throughout the game were tied for the fourth most field goal attempts the Pack has taken in a game this season.

Up Next

Nevada will return home to face UNLV in the regular-season finale this Saturday at 2pm, as they will seek to secure just the third season in program history with a perfect record at home.

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