Nevada (15-1, 2-0) vs. Boise State (11-4, 2-0)
Friday, Jan. 12 - 7:30 p.m. - Lawlor Events Center
TV: FS1 (John Ramey // Jess Settles)
Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/rELV1
Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/czGRW
Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app (Alex Margulies // Len Stevens)
RENO, Nev. - After winning eight consecutive games, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will put their unblemished home and conference records on the line Friday evening, as they are set to host Boise State in a showdown between two of the four remaining unbeaten teams in the Mountain West Conference.
Friday's game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be available for viewing on Fox Sports 1. The game will air over the radio on KNEV 95.5 FM and through the Varsity Network app.
Friday's game theme is youth night, and children will be able to shoot free throws on the court postgame.
Nevada has won eight consecutive contests, and they are coming off a 67-54 victory over Air Force in their Mountain West home opener this past Tuesday.
As they have done all season, the Pack turned in a stifling defensive performance against the Falcons, limiting Air Force to a season-low 54 points on an abysmal 37.3 percent shooting from the field.
The Pack blocked five shots, and Nevada forced Air Force into 13 turnovers while scoring 21 points off turnovers.
Nevada also limited Air Force to just 16 points in the paint, while scoring 26 points in the lane on offense.
The Pack shot the ball at a high level from behind the arc, as they knocked down seven 3-pointers on 15 attempts for an impressive clip of 46.7 percent. Nevada shot 46.5 percent from the field throughout the game, and they made 20 free throws on 29 attempts.
The Pack did an exceptional job of distributing the ball, as they recorded 15 assists on 20 made field goals.
Individually, Kenan Blackshear led the way with another all-around stellar outing, the latest in what has been a sensational season for the fifth-year senior. Blackshear scored a game-high 22 points on 7-13 shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down three rebounds, dishing out three assists, and matching a season-high by recording two blocks. Blackshear was particularly impressive in the second half, as he scored 15 of his 22 points over the final 20 minutes of play.
Blackshear is playing some of the best basketball of his career as of late; and, over Nevada's current eight-game winning streak, he is averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, while holding clips of 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.
Blackshear continues to rank within the top-15 of the Mountain West in numerous statistical categories this season. Heading into Friday night's contest, Blackshear ranks seventh in the Mountain West in points per game (16.6 PPG), seventh in assists per game (4.6 APG), 15th in steals per game (1.3 SPG), 15th in rebounds per game (5.4 RPG), and 15th in field goal percentage (53.2%). Blackshear has reached double figures in scoring in 14 of 16 games this season, and he has dished out at least three assists in 15 contests for the Pack.
Nick Davidson had a tremendous outing against Air Force, as the redshirt-sophomore recorded his second double-double of the season with an outing consisting of 12-points and 10-rebounds against the Falcons. Davidson also dished out three assists, and he had a highly-efficient night, reaching 12 points on 4-5 shooting from the field, including 1-1 from behind the arc.
Davidson has had a breakout sophomore campaign, and he ranks within the top-15 of the Mountain West in multiple statistical categories, including sixth in the league in rebounds per game (7.1 RPG) and 11th in blocks per game (0.9 BPG). Davidson is also 17th in the Mountain West in field goal percentage, with a mark of 53.0 percent this season.
Jarod Lucas did not have his best performance against Air Force; however, the fifth-year senior still managed to score 14 points while draining three 3-pointers. Lucas has now reached double figures in scoring in all 16 games for Nevada this season, and he has hit three or more 3-pointers in seven contests.
Similar to Blackshear, Lucas has been playing at an elite level over the Pack's current eight-game win streak. Over the past eight games for Nevada, the fifth-year senior is averaging 18.6 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting from the field, 44.0 percent from behind the arc, and 93.9 percent at the free throw line. Lucas is also averaging 2.9 boards per game over that stretch.
One of the most prolific scorers and shooters in the conference, Lucas continues to rank within the top-10 of the Mountain West in a multitude of categories. Lucas is currently third in the league in free throw percentage (93.3%), fifth in scoring (17.6 PPG), and sixth in made 3-pointers per game (2.3).
Senior forward Tre Coleman had a solid outing against Air Force, scoring seven points on 3-6 shooting, while also dishing out four assists and pulling down three rebounds. Coleman, an elite defender and versatile offensive player, ranks second on the team in steals (18), second in assists (35), fourth in scoring (7.7 PPG), fourth in rebounding (3.3 RPG), and fourth in blocks (8).
As a team, Nevada continues to rank as one of the most prolific defensive units in the country. The Pack is currently 18th in the nation in opponent points per game (63.2 PPG) and 26th in the country in opponent field goal percentage (39.1%). Nevada is also one of only two teams in the nation with 15 wins so far this season.
Nevada has limited all 16 of their opponents to less than 50 percent shooting from the field, and the Pack has held 12 teams to less than 70 points, including limiting seven teams to less than 60 points.
Offensively, Nevada has been one of the premier teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball, as they rank fifth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.1), while also ranking 27th in turnover margin (+3.8), and 22nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.6).
The Pack has held three straight opponents to less than 60 points, and Nevada will need to have another stout defensive performance on Friday evening to pull out their ninth consecutive victory.
Scouting Boise State
Boise State enters Friday night's showdown with an overall record of 11-4, including a perfect mark of 2-0 in Mountain West play. The Broncos have won three consecutive games, and they are coming off a seven-point victory over #17 Colorado State.
Similar to Nevada, Boise State has been impressive on the defensive end of the court this season, as they rank third in the Mountain West in scoring defense, limiting their opponents to just 65.3 points per game. The Broncos have been particularly impressive at defending the 3-point line, as opposing teams are shooting just 30.5 percent from behind the arc against the Broncos this season.
Boise State has also been one of the premier rebounding squads in the league this year. The Broncos rank fourth in the Mountain West in offensive boards per game (10.7), fifth in defensive rebounds per contest (26.3), while ranking second in the league in rebounding margin (+6.9). Boise State also leads the Mountain West in defensive rebounding percentage (77.8%).
The Broncos have struggled offensively at times, as they are seventh in the conference in scoring offense (75.3 PPG) and eighth in field goal percentage (45.9%); but, they have shot the ball well from behind the arc this season, as they enter Friday's game fifth in the Mountain West with a clip of 34.7 percent from three.
Individually, the Broncos have a multitude of players that have the potential to breakout on any given night.
6-foot-7 senior guard Chibuzo Agbo has led the way for Boise State this season, as he is averaging 15.1 points per game, while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and a superb 46.3 percent from behind the arc. Agbo has scored in double figures in all but two games for Boise State this season, and he has made a multiple of 3-pointers in eight contests, including draining four or more triples in five games. Agbo is also averaging 5.1 boards per contest for the Broncos.
2022-23 All-MW First Team honoree Tyson Degenhart has had another impressive season for Boise State, and he is averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Degenhart is shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from behind the arc. Degenhart has reached double figures in scoring in 14 of 15 games this season.
St. John's transfer Omar Stanley has been highly impressive for the Broncos this year, and he holds averages of 13.1 points and a team-high 5.8 boards per game, while shooting a tremendous 61.5 percent from the field. Stanley has significantly elevated his game over Boise State's current three-game winning streak, as he is averaging 22.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest over the Broncos' past three contests. Stanley has posted back-to-back double-doubles entering Friday night's game.
2022-23 All-MW Second Team honoree Max Rice is fourth on the team in scoring this season, averaging 11.7 points per game, while shooting 34.1 percent from behind the arc. Rice is also averaging 3.2 boards per contest, and he has hit multiple 3-pointers in eight games this season.
Nevada will need to protect the 3-point line and control the paint on both ends of the court if they hope to extend their winning streak to nine games and remain undefeated at Lawlor Events Center.
Series History
Nevada and Boise State have faced off 84 times throughout history, with the Pack owning a 52-32 advantage in the all-time series. Since joining the Mountain West, the series between Nevada and Boise State has been nearly even, as the Pack holds a 13-12 advantage over the Broncos as Mountain West conference opponents.
Follow The Pack
Follow Nevada Men's Basketball on social media at @NevadaHoops (X), @nevadahoops (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaMBB
