Nevada (13-1, 0-0) at Fresno State (7-7, 0-1)
Saturday, Jan. 6 - 4 p.m.
TV: MW Network
Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app
Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/kAJN7
Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/dkEP1
RENO, Nev. - After one of the most successful runs through non-conference play in program history, the Nevada Men's Basketball team is set to begin conference play Saturday afternoon on the road against Fresno State.
The Pack had a tremendous run through the non-conference portion of their 2023-24 slate, matching a program record with 13 wins, while only sustaining one loss. Nevada entered 2024 as one of four teams in the country with 13 wins, and when conference play began earlier this week, the Pack had the most victories of any Mountain West team.
Nevada also made history during their non-conference schedule by defeating three power-five teams from different conferences for the first time in program history.
The Pack won their third Multi-Team Event under Head Coach Steve Alford after a dominant run through the 2023 Diamond Head Classic in which they defeated Temple, TCU, and Georgia Tech. Nevada completed the Diamond Head Classic with an average scoring margin of +15.0, and Wolf Pack players Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear received significant recognition for their outstanding play throughout the event, as Blackshear was named to the All-Tournament Team and Lucas was named Tournament MVP.
Nevada concluded non-conference play with a staggering scoring margin of +15.2, and the Pack managed to limit all 14 of their non-conference opponents to below 50 percent shooting from the field.
The Pack also made 18 more free throws than their opponents attempted during non-conference play, as Nevada has drained 266 free throws this season entering Saturday, while opposing teams have attempted just 248.
Nevada wrapped up their record-setting non-conference run this past Saturday with a 92-59 victory over Fresno Pacific to reach 13 victories on the season.
The Pack had a plethora of different players make a significant impact on the game; however, Lucas shined brightest for Nevada, scoring a team-high 22 points on 8-16 shooting from the field, 3-7 from behind the arc, and 3-3 at the free throw line. Lucas has been playing at a superb level as of late, as he has scored 20+ points in each of the Pack's past four games, and over that stretch he is averaging 22.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game with clips of 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from behind the arc, and a perfect 100 percent at the free throw line (21-21).
Lucas, one of the premier offensive players in the Mountain West, continues to rank in the top-15 in the conference in multiple statistical categories, including ranking third in free throw percentage (92.9%), fourth in scoring (17.9 PPG), and seventh in average made 3-pointers per game (2.1).
In the Pack's victory over Fresno Pacific, Blackshear had another impressive all-around performance, scoring seven points, dishing out seven assists, pulling down five rebounds, and recording two steals. Like Lucas, Blackshear has been playing at an elite level for Nevada as of late. Over the Pack's past four games, the fifth-year senior is averaging 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting an exceptional 60 percent from the field. An elite facilitator, Blackshear has dished out at least three assists in 13 of 14 games this season.
Blackshear ranks in the top-20 in the Mountain West in numerous individual statistical categories ahead of the Pack's contest against Fresno State. He currently ranks seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.8 APG), eight in scoring (16.1 PPG), 16th in rebounding (5.5 RPG), and 18th in field goal percentage (53.8%).
Nevada received a tremendous spark off the bench in the victory over Fresno Pacific from graduate-student Hunter McIntosh, who scored 18 points in 18 minutes of action, marking his highest scoring total since joining the Wolf Pack program. McIntosh has excelled as a 3-point shooter for Nevada this season, as he ranks first on the team and tenth in the Mountain West in 3-point field goal percentage (41.9%).
K.J. Hymes was outstanding in the Pack's victory over the Sunbirds, scoring a season-high 14 points on 5-6 shooting from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line, while also pulling down four rebounds in the game. Hymes has reached double figures in scoring in three of his past four games, and he has been a force in the paint for the Pack this season. Hymes enters Saturday's contest ranked fifth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (62.5%).
Redshirt-sophomore Nick Davidson did not have his best outing against Fresno Pacific; but, he still managed to score five points, pull down four rebounds, and dish out two assists. Davidson has had an exceptional sophomore campaign for the Pack, and he currently ranks first on the team and sixth in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (7.0 RPG). Davidson is also 11th in the conference in blocks per game (0.9 BPG) and 16th in field goal percentage (54.5%).
Redshirt-junior Tylan Pope who was forced to miss the first 10 games of the season due to injury had his best outing of the season against Fresno Pacific, scoring nine points on 4-7 shooting and pulling down four rebounds. Pope has continued to be a factor off the bench since his return and has steadily improved with each outing.
Daniel Foster continued to push on with his highly productive senior campaign, scoring five points, pulling down four rebounds, dishing out four assists, and recording a career-high three steals in the victory over Fresno Pacific. Foster is third on the team in steals (12) and fourth in assists (21) this season, and his outstanding field goal percentage of 54.2 percent ranks 22nd in the Mountain West.
As a team, Nevada has maintained one of the premier defenses in the country throughout the course of the season. The Pack currently ranks 30th in the nation in opponent field goal percentage (39.0%), 39th in the country in scoring defense (64.6 PPG), and 89th in the nation in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.9%).
Offensively, Nevada has been one of the most efficient teams in the country this season. The Pack ranks 14th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (9.4), while also ranking tied for 39th in turnover margin (+3.4). Nevada enters Saturday's contest with the 46th best field goal percentage in the country (48.1%).
The Pack will aim to maintain their extraordinary season thus far and begin Mountain West play with a road victory; however, an athletic Fresno State team stands in the way of Nevada's aspirations.
Scouting Fresno State
Fresno State enters Saturday's matchup with an overall record of 7-7, including a mark of 0-1 in conference play, as they sustained a 27-point loss at San Diego State in their conference opener this past Wednesday.
Fresno State plays at a slow pace, as they are 222nd in the country in possessions per game (70.8), and in turn they are one of the lowest scoring teams in the Mountain West; however, they are scoring at an efficient rate, as they rank third in the conference in field goal percentage with an impressive clip of 48.3 percent.
Individually, the Bulldogs have nine different players averaging at least 5.5 points per game, as they have a variety of different players with the potential to contribute offensively.
Senior guard Isaiah Hill has had a standout season for Fresno State this year, as he leads the team in scoring (12.8 PPG), assists (5.1 APG), and steals (1.1 SPG). Hill has reached double figures in scoring in 10 of 14 games this season, and the senior guard has also dished out five or more assists in 10 games for the Bulldogs. Hill has been solid from behind the arc this season, knocking down 22 3-pointers at a clip of 33.3 percent.
Wyoming transfer Xavier DuSell has also had an impressive 2023-24 campaign for the Bulldogs as a 3-point sharpshooter. He is currently second on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per game, and has managed to score at an efficient rate, as the senior guard is shooting a team-high 40.7 percent from behind the arc, while also holding a clip of 87.5 percent at the free throw line. 77.5 percent of DuSell's shots have come from behind the arc this season.
The Bulldogs boast one of the most formidable frontcourt duos in the conference with 6-foot-11, 248-pound senior center Eduardo Andre and 6-foot-11, 250-pound junior Enoch Boakye.
Andre is fourth on the team in scoring (8.2 PPG) and second in rebounding (6.2 RPG), while also ranking first on the team and sixth overall in the Mountain West in blocks per game (1.2 BPG), as he has done an excellent job of protecting the rim this season.
Boakye has been exceptional on the glass, as he is third in the Mountain West in rebounds per game, pulling down 7.9 boards per contest. Boakye has also been a solid rim protector this season, as he is averaging 0.9 blocks per game entering Saturday's contest.
6-foot-5 senior guard Donavan Yap Jr. has assumed the fifth spot in the starting lineup for the Bulldogs for most of the season, and he is third on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game. Yap has shot the ball at a high-level from behind the arc, as he enters Saturday's game with a clip of 36.1 percent on 3-pointers this season. Dap is also second on the team in assists, averaging 2.1 per contest.
Fresno State has struggled defensively this season, and they are currently 10th in the Mountain West in scoring defense (71.4 PPG) and 11th in opponent field goal percentage (44.2%).
Nevada will need to have an efficient offensive outing, while keeping the Bulldogs off the glass and limiting Hill's production to secure a victory in their conference-opener.
Series History
Nevada and Fresno State have faced off 59 times as Division I opponents throughout history, with the Pack holding a 37-22 advantage in the all-time series. Nevada won both games against the Bulldogs last season.
Follow The Pack
Follow Nevada Men's Basketball on social media at @NevadaHoops (X), @nevadahoops (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaMBB
