SAN DIEGO - The Nevada Men's Basketball team put together a valiant second half comeback attempt after facing a 14-point halftime deficit; however, the Pack came up short, as they fell to San Diego State on the road by a final score of 71-59. 

Following the loss, Nevada now owns an overall record of 15-3 this season, including a mark of 2-2 in Mountain West play. 

Nevada had an impressive defensive performance, limiting the Aztecs to just 41.5 percent shooting from the field, including 23.8 percent from behind the arc. The Pack also recorded eight steals in the game.

Offensively, Nevada struggled for the majority of the first half and over the final eight minutes of the second period. The Pack was also outrebounded 44-25 in the game.

Despite the vast difference in rebounding, and San Diego State earning 17 more free throw attempts than Nevada throughout the game, the Pack clawed their way back from a 14-point halftime deficit and tied the contest up multiple times in the second period.

Tre Coleman led the way individually for Nevada, scoring 16 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, including an impressive 4-7 from behind the arc. The four 3-pointers made by Coleman matched a career-high for the senior. Coleman also managed to grab four rebounds, record one steal, and tally one block.

Kenan Blackshear had a stellar all-around performance for the Pack, as the fifth-year senior scored 14 points on 6-12 shooting, while also dishing out a game-high seven assists, pulling down a team-high five rebounds, and recording a team-high three steals. Blackshear was particularly impressive in the second half, as he scored eight points and dished out five assists over the final 20 minutes of play.

K.J. Hymes was limited to 15 minutes of playing time due to foul trouble; however, the sixth-year senior battled with the San Diego State frontcourt all night, and he finished the contest with eight points on a perfect 3-3 shooting, in addition to grabbing three boards. 

The Pack received a significant boost off the bench from Daniel Foster on both ends of the court. The senior scored three points, dished out two assists, and pulled down three rebounds, while recording one block and one steal. 

Nevada held a lead for one minute and 57 seconds, while in turn trailing for 36 minutes and 22 seconds throughout the game.

First Half

Nevada won the opening tip, and Blackshear found a cutting Jarod Lucas who proceeded to drain a mid-range jumper, giving the Pack a 2-0 lead 22 seconds into the game. 

San Diego State scored 10 straight points following Lucas' bucket, as the Aztecs built a 10-2 lead at the 14:19 mark. 

Blackshear finished a tough layup through contact after Lucas corralled an offensive rebound, ending the Aztecs 10-0 run, as the Pack trailed 10-4 with 13:49 left in the first half. 

Just over a minute later, the Aztecs hit a mid-range jumper, extending their lead back up to eight points. 

Hymes hit a lone free throw before burying a difficult left handed hook shot to trim San Diego State's lead to just five points, as the Aztecs held a 12-7 advantage over the Pack with 10:47 to go until halftime. 

San Diego State used a 7-1 run over the next 1:34 of game time to extend their lead up to 11 points with just over nine minutes remaining in the period. 

Nevada battled back, reeling off an 8-0 run, as they trimmed the deficit down to just three points at the 6:28 mark. 

The run began with a Coleman layup off a beautiful pass from Blackshear. After SDSU missed a pair of free throws, freshman Jazz Gardner drained a turnaround fadeaway jumper, his first bucket of the game. Blackshear then pulled down an offensive rebound and drilled a jumper; and, after another stop on defense, Gardner got his second bucket of the game, completing the Pack's 8-0 run. 

San Diego State went on to outscore Nevada 19-8 over the final remainder of the first half, as the Pack trailed 38-24 at the break. 

Second Half

Hymes opened up the scoring in the second period, as Blackshear found him open in the paint and the sixth-year senior proceeded to throw down a massive two-handed dunk.

The Aztecs responded with a bucket of their own on the other end; but Coleman drained his first 3-pointer of the game, as Nevada trailed 40-29 following the triple from Coleman.

San Diego State knocked down a pair of free throws to extend their lead back up to 13; however, Lucas hit a jumper inside the arc to cut the deficit down to 11. 

The two squads went back and forth over the next few minutes, and Nevada found themselves trailing by 12 with 15:34 to go.

The Pack drastically elevated their intensity, as they ripped off a 14-2 run over the next 4:31, tying the contest for the first time since it was 0-0. 

San Diego State scored five straight points to build a 53-48 lead; but, Coleman splashed another triple and Blackshear finished another shot in the paint, as Nevada tied up the contest at 53 points apiece with 7:37 remaining. 

The Aztecs went on a 7-0 run over the next 2:27, taking a 61-54 lead over the Pack with 5:10 to go. Coleman ended the run by draining his fourth 3-pointer of the night; but, Nevada was outscored 10-2 over the remainder of the contest, as they went on to fall to SDSU by a final score of 71-59.

Notable Stats:

• Tre Coleman matched a career-high by draining four 3-pointers in the game.

• Kenan Blackshear's seven assists matched his second-highest total in a game this season.

• Nevada shot 46.2 percent from behind the arc in the second half (6-13).

Up Next

Nevada will travel to Laramie, Wyoming to face Wyoming on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

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