ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – Trailing by one with 15.4 seconds remaining in the game, Kenan Blackshear took the inbound pass near the midcourt logo. Blackshear received a screen near the top of the key and got the switch onto a smaller defender.  Blackshear stared him down for multiple seconds before making his move, driving to the left before stopping on a dime and pulling up for a jumper over the New Mexico defender from about 10 feet out with three seconds left. Blackshear's difficult shot bounced around the rim multiple times before dropping in with 0.1 seconds left on the clock, fueling Nevada to a clutch 77-76 road victory over New Mexico in what was another thrilling contest between the two programs.

The win marked Head Coach Steve Alford's 91st regular-season victory at The Pit, as he now owns an incredible record of 91-9 in the arena, including a perfect record of 2-0 at the helm of the Nevada program. Alford also improved to 8-0 overall against his former team.

With the sensational victory, Nevada now owns an overall record of 19-6 this season, including a mark of 9-3 in Mountain West play.

All eight players that saw action in the game for the Pack scored at least two points, including six different players scoring at least six points, in what was one of the most balanced offensive attacks of the season for Nevada.

The Pack shot an exceptional 50 percent from the field (29-58) and 50 percent from three (11-22) throughout the game, as they put on a brilliant display of offense in the contest.

Jarod Lucas led the way in what was one of the best performances of his college career, turning in a dominant outing on the offensive end of the floor. Lucas dropped a game-high 28 points on 11-18 shooting from the field and an immaculate 6-9 shooting from behind the arc. The 28 points scored matched a career-high set by Lucas earlier this season.

Blackshear chipped in 12 points, none more important than his sensational game-winning bucket, while also dishing out three assists and tallying one steal. The senior guard finished the contest with a game-high plus/minus of +5 in 23 minutes of action.

Will Baker was the third Pack player to reach double figures in scoring, putting up 10 points on 5-9 shooting from the field, while also pulling down five rebounds.

Freshman forward Darrion Williams had another stat-stuffing night for the Pack, scoring eight points, pulling down five rebounds, dishing out five assists, and recording one steal and one block apiece. He knocked down 2-4 shots from behind the arc, and the freshman finished the game with a plus/minus of +4 in 34 minutes of playing time.

Nevada's bench came through in a massive way for the Pack, as the trio of Nick Davidson, Daniel Foster, and Tyler Powell provided outstanding production off the bench for Nevada.

Powell served as a huge offensive spark off the bench, scoring seven points on 3-6 shooting from the field, including knocking down one 3-pointer. Powell earned a plus/minus of +1 in 15 minutes of action.

Daniel Foster had arguably his best game of the season for Nevada, scoring six points and not missing a shot throughout the night, as he knocked down both of his field goal attempts and both of his shots at the free throw line. Foster also dished a team-high and new career-high six assists in the contest, in addition to grabbing two rebounds and recording one steal.

Davidson came off the bench to score four points and pull down a team-high seven rebounds while earning a plus/minus of +4 in 21 minutes of playing time.

First Half

Blackshear started off the contest by drilling a difficult step-back jumper over a New Mexico defender, giving the Pack a 2-0 lead 44 seconds into the game.

New Mexico knocked down a 3-pointer on their next possession to take their first lead of the contest; but, Tre Coleman hit two free throws to put the Pack up 4-3.

The Lobos converted a layup in the paint on the other end to regain the advantage; however, Lucas started to heat up, draining his first of six 3-pointers on the night off of a pass from Williams to give Nevada a 7-5 lead with 17:41 remaining in the first half.

The Pack fouled New Mexico on a 3-point attempt, and the Lobos proceeded to hit all three free throws; but, Lucas came down and drilled his second consecutive triple - a deep, contested pull-up jumper from behind the arc, and Nevada held a 10-8 lead at the 17:17 mark in the first half.

New Mexico responded in the form of a 7-0 run over the next 3:51, taking a 15-10 lead over the Pack.

Foster then came down the court and found an open Williams in the corner, who splashed a 3-pointer to end the UNM run and put the Pack within two.

New Mexico hit a three of their own on the other end to push the lead back up to five; however, as he seemed to do all night, Lucas had an answer, hitting a tough pull-up mid-range jump shot to trim the deficit to three.

New Mexico hit another 3-pointer less than a minute later to take a 21-15 lead over Nevada with 11:31 to go until halftime.

Foster came down and made another strong drive, this time making a beautiful pass to Powell for a wide-open layup at the rim, with  Nevada trailing 17-21 following the bucket.

After the Lobos hit a lone free throw to extend their advantage to five, Williams made a tough drive and finished at the rack to put the Pack within three.

Davidson recorded a block on the other end and Foster made another strong drive, this time finishing at the rim to cut the deficit to just one with 9:45 left in the first period.

After the Lobos scored a bucket in the paint, Williams hit a massive 3-pointer in the face of a New Mexico defender, tying the game for the first time in over eight and a half minutes.

New Mexico responded with a quick 5-0 run over just 43 seconds of game time, taking a 29-24 lead at the 8:09 mark.

Nevada then reeled off a 5-0 run of their own to tie the game once again, as Baker found himself wide open off an inbound play for a massive one-handed slam before Powell knocked down a big 3-pointer, as the teams were deadlocked at 29 apiece with 7:06 to go until halftime.

After a 1:30 scoring drought for both squads, New Mexico hit a mid-range jump shot to regain the lead; but, Lucas had an answer, as Williams found him open and he proceeded to splash another shot from behind the arc, recapturing the lead for Nevada.

New Mexico scored the next four points of the contest; however, Lucas' phenomenal first half continued, as he drove by his defender and used a beautiful pump fake to get an open layup that he finished with ease, trimming the Lobos lead to one point with 4:05 left in the first period.

Two more free throws from New Mexico pushed the Lobos' lead back up to three; but, Lucas refused to let the UNM gain any momentum, as he pulled up from near the mid-court logo and splashed the fourth 3-pointer of the first half to tie the game at 37 points apiece.

37 seconds later, at the 2:49 mark, Blackshear found Davidson open behind the arc and Davidson proceeded to drill his first 3-pointer of the night while also drawing a foul on the play, as he went on to knock down the free throw, giving Nevada a 41-37 lead. 

The two squads traded free throws on the next two possessions, as Nevada maintained the four-point advantage with 2:30 to go before halftime.

The Lobos hit two free throws with 49 seconds left to cut the Pack's lead to two; however, Powell hit a floater in the lane at the halftime buzzer after collecting an offensive rebound on his own missed shot, as the Pack took a 45-41 lead into the break.

Nevada shot an outstanding 57.1 percent from the field and a phenomenal 61.5 percent from three in the first half, as they knocked down 8-12 shots from behind the arc.

The eight 3-pointers made by Nevada in the first period marked the most shots from behind the arc that the Pack have made in a half this season.

Second Half

Baker started off the second period with a bucket in the lane off of an assist from Lucas, extending the Pack's lead to six points 17 seconds into the half.

New Mexico scored a bucket in the lane of their own on the other end; but, Williams dished a pass to Blackshear in the corner who momentarily stared down his defender before pulling up and drilling a three over the top of him, giving the Pack a seven-point advantage, their largest lead of the game at that point in time.

The Lobos hit three consecutive free throws to trim Nevada's lead to four; however, Lucas drilled his first shot of the second period, a step-back jumper over his defender to push the lead up to six with 16:27 left in the game.

The Lobos scored 13 seconds later, cutting the lead back down to four;  but, Nevada reeled off four straight points in the form of a Baker slam and a Foster offensive rebound and putback, putting the Pack up by eight, their largest lead of the game.

New Mexico reduced the deficit to four; but, as he continued to do throughout the entire game, Lucas had another response, as he drained his first 3-pointer of the second half to extend the lead back up to seven.   

The Lobos immediately cut the Pack's lead to five, but Lucas hit another pull-up jumper to put Nevada back up by seven, as they held a 63-56 lead with 11:34 left in the game.

Four straight points from New Mexico brought the Lobos within three before Baker threw down another dunk to push Nevada's lead back up to five at the 8:09 mark.

The Lobos then proceeded to go on a 6-0 run over the next 3:26 to retake the lead for the first time since the 3:47 mark in the first half.

Trailing 65-66 with just 4:43 remaining in an incredibly hostile road environment, Nevada battled back, displaying the exceptional late-game poise and resilience that they have continued to display throughout the entire season.

Blackshear knocked down two free throws to recapture the lead for Nevada, but 15 seconds later the Lobos hit a jump shot to retake the lead themselves. They then extended their lead over Nevada to three points after earning a stop and hitting two free throws.

Trailing by three and in need of a big shot, Lucas came through yet again, drilling his sixth 3-pointer of the game to tie the score at 70 points apiece with 3:16 to go. 

The Pack forced New Mexico into a missed shot on the other end and Lucas corralled the rebound. He then went down and hit a clutch pull-up jumper to put the Pack up two with less than three minutes left.

New Mexico tied the contest on two made free throws 14 seconds later; however, Blackshear finished a layup at the rim, giving Nevada a 74-72 lead with just 1:10 on the clock.

The Lobos managed to tie the contest again with 58 seconds to go, and on the Pack's next offensive possession, Blackshear was fouled on a driving layup attempt. He proceeded to hit one of two free throws to put the Pack up by one with 44 seconds to go.

New Mexico hit a contested mid-range jumper on the other end to take a 76-75 lead with 18 seconds remaining and the Pack took a timeout with 15.4 on the clock.

With the game on the line, Blackshear, as he has done multiple times this season, came through in the clutch, hitting an incredibly difficult pull-up jumper with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to completely silence a raucous arena and propel Nevada to another thrilling victory.

Notable Stats:

•  There were 10 ties and 16 lead changes throughout the game.

•  Nevada's bench outscored New Mexico's bench, 17-11.

• The Pack made 8-10 shots at the free-throw line.

•  Nevada limited New Mexico to an abysmal 25.0 percent shooting from behind the arc (4-16).

• The Pack recorded 16 assists on 29 made field goals.

•  Five different players made at least one 3-pointer for Nevada.

• Nevada has won nine straight games against New Mexico.

Up Next

The Pack will return home to host Fresno State this Friday with tip-off set for 8pm. 

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