Nevada (15-4, 2-3) vs. #24 Colorado State (15-3, 3-2)

Wednesday, Jan. 24 - 7:30 p.m. - Lawlor Events Center

TV: FS1

Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/ioqX4

Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/dxR47

Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app

RENO, Nev. - Coming off a rigorous road-trip in which the Nevada Men's Basketball team fell to both San Diego State and Wyoming, the Pack will seek to bounce back in a considerable way, as they welcome #24 Colorado State to Lawlor Events Center for a Wednesday night collision.

Wednesday's game will be the Pack's annual Coaches vs. Cancer game, as Nevada Basketball aims to spread awareness and support the American Cancer Society. The Softball and Women's Tennis teams will be signing autographs on the concourse before the game, and posters will be handed out in section 24. 

Wednesday's contest is slated to tip off 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.

Nevada is in the midst of a gauntlet of strenuous games; and, after dropping three straight contests, the Pack will have the opportunity to respond in a massive way with a victory over the 24th-ranked team in the country in Colorado State.

The Pack concluded their recent two-game road swing with a difficult 98-93 loss at Wyoming. 

The Pack had an exceptional performance on the offensive end of the court, as their 93 points marked their second-highest total in a game this season. Nevada shot 50.7 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from behind the arc, knocking down 11 3-pointers and marking their second-most triples in a contest this year. The Pack recorded 18 assists on 35 made field goals, and Nevada pulled down 17 offensive rebounds. The Pack also scored 40 points in the paint throughout the game. 

Despite the offensive outburst, Nevada struggled to contain Wyoming defensively, as they surrendered 98 points to the Cowboys, the most they have allowed in a game this season. Wyoming also became the first team to shoot above 50 percent from the field against the Pack this year, as they finished the contest with a clip of 57.7 percent for the game. The Cowboys entered Saturday's matchup as the number one ranked 3-point shooting team in the conference in terms of percentage, and they solidified that status by shooting 56.5 percent from behind the arc against the Pack.

Nevada had three players score 19+ points, led by Tre Coleman, who had arguably the most complete game of his collegiate career. Coleman scored a career-high 23 points on 8-14 shooting from the field, including 4-8 from behind the arc. The senior also pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, tallied one block, and matched a season-high by recording four steals.

After struggling at times offensively during the non-conference portion of the season, Coleman has found his stride since the commencing of Mountain West play. The senior forward is averaging 12.8 points per game on 59.5 percent shooting from the field (22-37), including 55.0 percent from behind the arc (11-20), while also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the Pack's five conference games this season. Coleman was averaging 7.6 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, along with 20.6 percent from behind the arc, while also averaging 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in non-conference play, as he has significantly elevated his game in conference action.

Over the Pack's past two games, Coleman has scored a combined 39 points, marking the most points that he has scored over a two-game stretch in his collegiate career. The senior forward has displayed tremendous versatility throughout the season. Entering Wednesday night's contest, he ranks second on the team in assists (42), second in steals (26), fourth in rebounding (3.5 RPG), and fourth in scoring (8.9 PPG).

Jarod Lucas got back on track for Nevada against Wyoming after not reaching double figures in scoring for the first time this season in the Pack's game at San Diego State. Lucas scored 20 points on 7-13 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from behind the arc. Lucas has now made 297 career 3-pointers, and he is approaching 2,000 career points, as he sits at 1,865 entering Wednesday's game. 

Lucas continues to rank as one of the most prolific scorers in the Mountain West, as he is within the top-10 of the conference in a multitude of individual statistical categories. Lucas currently ranks fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (91.9%), fifth in scoring (15.9 PPG), and seventh in average 3-pointers per game (2.2).

Nick Davidson also had an exceptional bounce-back game against Wyoming after struggling in the contest at San Diego State. The redshirt sophomore matched a career-high with 19 points on 7-12 shooting from the field and 2-4 from behind the arc, in addition to pulling down five rebounds and tallying two blocks. Davidson continues to lead the team in rebounding (6.6 RPG), and he ranks seventh overall in the Mountain West in rebounds per game, in addition to ranking 14th in the league in blocks per game (0.9 BPG).

Do-it-all point guard Kenan Blackshear did not have his usual scoring output against Wyoming; however, he dished out a game-high eight assists, marking his second highest assist total in a game this season. Blackshear has dished out three or more assists in 18 games this season, pulled down five or more rebounds in 11 games, scored in double figures in 16 games, and tallied one or more steals in 15 games, as the fifth-year senior has been impressive in all aspects of the game this year. 

Blackshear continues to rank within the top-20 of the Mountain West in a plethora of statistical categories. Blackshear is currently seventh in the Mountain West in scoring (15.9 PPG), seventh in assists per game (4.9 APG), 11th in steals per game (1.5 SPG), and 19th in rebounds per game (5.2 RPG). 

Sixth-year senior forward K.J. Hymes was limited to just nine minutes against Wyoming due to foul trouble; but, Hymes had an impressive performance for the Pack, scoring seven points, pulling down a season-high six rebounds, and recording two blocks. Hymes has recorded at least one block in six of the past eight contests, including recording three or more blocks in two of those games.

The Pack received a noteworthy boost off the bench from Tylan Pope against Wyoming, as he had arguably his best game in a Nevada uniform. Pope scored eight points on 4-5 shooting, while also grabbing three boards and recording one block and one steal.

As a team, Nevada continues to rank as one of the premier defensive units in the country. The Pack currently ranks 41st in the country in opponent field goal percentage (40.2%) and 42nd in the nation in scoring defense (65.5 PPG).

Offensively, Nevada has continued to do an exceptional job of taking care of the ball. Nevada ranks 10th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (9.4), tied for 30th in assist/turnover ratio (1.5), and 33rd in turnover margin (+3.6).

Nevada will return to Lawlor Events Center on Wednesday night, where they have been immaculate since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Pack is 23-2 at home since the commencing of the 2022-23 season, including a mark of 9-1 this season. Nevada has held their opponents to just 61.0 points per game at home this season, and they own an average scoring margin of +18.0. The Pack will need to have one of their best performances of the season in order to defend their home court on Wednesday, as they welcome a high-powered offensive team in Colorado State, led by 4x All-Mountain West honoree Isaiah Stevens.

Scouting Colorado State

Colorado State enters Wednesday's matchup with an overall record of 15-3 this season, including a mark of 3-2 in conference play. 

The Rams had a highly impressive run through the non-conference portion of their schedule, and they have picked up marquee victories over Boston College, Creighton, Colorado, Washington, and New Mexico this season. 

After dropping back-to-back road games against Utah State and Boise State, Colorado State enters Wednesday's matchup on a two-game win streak, coming off victories over Air Force and UNLV.

Colorado State plays at an incredibly fast pace, and this squad has been one of the most prolific offensive teams in the country this season. The Rams currently rank first in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (51.4%), second in 3-point field goal percentage (37.6%), and third in points per game (81.3 PPG). 

Colorado State's field goal percentage of 51.4 percent not only ranks first in the Mountain West, but is also the second best clip of any team in the country. The Rams also rank 31st in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage and 42nd in points per game. 

Defensively, Colorado State has been solid this season. The Rams rank sixth in the Mountain West in scoring defense (68.9 PPG) and seventh in opponent field goal percentage (43.7%), and seventh in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (33.0%). 

Individually, the Rams are led by Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List Honoree, Isaiah Stevens, who is one of the premier players in the country. Stevens was a 2022-23 First Team All-MW honoree and is the only player in Mountain West history to earn All-MW honors four times. Stevens currently ranks third in the nation in assists per game (7.2 APG), and he is the only player in the country averaging 17+ PPG and 7+ APG. Stevens is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game on 51.2 percent shooting from the field, 47.1 percent from behind the arc, and 79.7 percent at the line. 

The senior has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games for Colorado State, including scoring 20+ points six times. Stevens has also dished out at least five assists in 17 games, and he has reached double figures in assists in three different contests. Stevens has been sensational on the road for Colorado State this season. In seven road/neutral contests, Stevens is averaging 18.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, while holding clips of 53.1 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc. 

Stevens is joined in the back court by 6-foot-6, 200-pound Colorado transfer Nique Clifford. Clifford is also having an impressive season, as he ranks second on the team in scoring, putting up 13.9 points per game on an incredible 60.3 percent shooting from the field and 53.1 percent from behind the arc. Clifford is also averaging a team-high 6.3 boards per game and is dishing out 2.4 assists per contest.

Graduate student Patrick Cartier ranks third on the team in scoring, as he is averaging 12.4 points per game, while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from behind the arc. 

2022-23 Division II National Player of the Year, Joel Scott, is the fourth Colorado State player averaging double figures in scoring. Scott is putting up 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. 

Nevada will have to keep Stevens in check and protect the 3-point line throughout the game if they hope to earn a victory over Colorado State on Wednesday.

Series History

Nevada and Colorado State have faced off 25 times as Division I opponents throughout history, with the Pack holding a 14-11 advantage in the series. Nevada won the lone matchup between the two squads last season, an 80-69 victory over the Rams at Lawlor Events Center.

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