Nevada (16-5, 3-4) vs. San José State (8-13, 1-7)

Friday, Feb. 2 - 8 p.m. - Lawlor Events Center

TV: FS1 (John Ramey // Richie Schueler)

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

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

Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app (Alex Margulies // Len Stevens)

RENO, Nev. - After sustaining a difficult 89-55 defeat on the road against #25 New Mexico this past Sunday, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will seek to bounce back on their home court on Friday night, as they are set to host San José State. 

The game is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. and will be available for viewing on Fox Sports 1. The contest will air over the radio on KNEV 95.5 FM and through the Varsity Network app. 

Friday night's game is sponsored by IBEW Local 401. Posters and player cards featuring K.J. Hymes will be available at section 22, and the first 450 students to enter the arena will receive a bag of flamin' hot Cheetos. There will also be a $10,000 putt at halftime sponsored by River City Logistics. 

Nevada is coming off one of their most challenging games of the season, as they suffered a lopsided defeat on the road to #25 New Mexico.  

The Pack struggled on both ends of the court in a raucous environment at The Pit, as they shot just 33.9 percent from the field and allowed the Lobos to complete the game with a clip of 58.6 percent shooting from the field.  

Kenan Blackshear and Jarod Lucas led the way offensively for Nevada, tallying nine points apiece.  

The nine-point outing from Lucas marked just the second time in 21 games this season that the fifth-year senior failed to reach double figures in scoring.  

Despite not having his best performance, Lucas continues to rank as one of the most prolific scorers in the Mountain West, as he is fourth in the league in scoring entering Friday night's game (17.2 PPG).  

Lucas also ranks fourth in the league in free throw percentage (91.5%), seventh in made 3-pointers (46), and 17th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.7%). Lucas has played particularly well this season at Lawlor Events Center, as he is averaging 18.2 points per game on 42.1 percent shooting from behind the arc in Nevada's 11 home games. Both of Lucas' season-high scoring outputs have come at Lawlor Events Center, as he scored a career-high 30 points at home against Portland earlier this season, as well as dropping 28 points in the Pack's last home contest, a 77-64 victory over #24 Colorado State. 

Kenan Blackshear also did not have his best outing at New Mexico; however, the fifth-year senior continues to rank as one of the premier guards in the Mountain West, and he is within the top-25 of the conference in numerous individual statistical categories.  

Blackshear enters Friday's contest ranked seventh in the Mountain West in scoring (15.8 PPG), seventh in assists per game (4.7 APG), 11th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 18th in rebounds per game (5.1 RPG), and 21st in field goal percentage (50.6%).  

Both Blackshear and Lucas have been instrumental to Nevada's success this season, and the Pack will need impactful performances from the duo in order to earn a victory on Friday night. 

In the Pack's 16 wins this season, Lucas is averaging 18.7 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field, 42.5 percent from behind the arc, and 93.5 percent at the free throw line. The fifth-year senior is also averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers and 5.4 free throws per game in victories. In the Pack's five losses this season, Lucas is averaging 12.4 points per game on 34.4 percent shooting from the field, 28.1 percent from behind the arc, and 78.6 percent at the free throw line, while making 1.8 made 3-pointers and 2.2 free throws per game.  

Blackshear has been similar in his value to Nevada's success this season, as he is averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 53.9 percent from the field in the Pack's 16 victories this season. In Nevada's five losses, Blackshear is averaging 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field.  

K.J. Hymes had one of his best games of the season for the Pack at New Mexico, scoring six points on 2-3 shooting from the field and 2-2 at the free throw line, in addition to pulling down a season-high seven boards and recording two blocks. Hymes currently ranks fifth overall in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (62.1%) and 14th in the conference in blocks per game (0.9 BPG). Hymes has tallied at least one block in 12 games this season, including recording 2+ blocks in four contests. 

Redshirt sophomore Nick Davidson scored six points and pulled down seven rebounds in the contest at New Mexico, marking the 11th time this season that he has grabbed seven or more boards in a game for the Pack. Davidson has been one of the premier rebounders in the Mountain West throughout the season, and he currently ranks ninth in the conference in rebounds per game (6.7 RPG).  

Tre Coleman had one of his quieter outings as of late; however, the senior still posted a stat line of seven points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the contest. Coleman has been sensational for Nevada during Mountain West play. In the Pack's seven conference games, Coleman is averaging 10.9 points per game on 50 percent shooting from behind the arc, as well as 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.  

Nevada received an impactful performance off the bench from Tylan Pope, as the redshirt junior has continued to elevate his game after returning from an injury that forced him to miss the first 10 games of the season. Pope scored five points, pulled down four rebounds, and recorded two blocks in 16 minutes of action. Pope has been playing his best basketball of the season, and over Nevada's past three games he is averaging 6.7 points per game on 59.1 percent shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down 3.3 rebounds, and recording 1.3 blocks per game.  

As a team, Nevada continues to rank as one of the elite defensive units in the Mountain West this season. The Pack currently ranks first in the league in scoring defense (66.6 PPG), second in opponent field goal percentage (41.1%), and sixth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.8%). Nationally, Nevada ranks 54th in the country in scoring defense and 60th in opponent field goal percentage. 

As they have done throughout the season, the Pack has maintained their status as one of the most prolific teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball. Nevada ranks 16th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.6), 36th in the country in turnover margin (+3.0), and 40th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.5). Nevada has had 10 or fewer turnovers in 15 of 21 games this season. 

The Pack has been dominant at Lawlor Events Center this year, as they own a record of 10-1 with an average scoring margin of +17.5 points per game. Nevada's defense has been tremendous at home, as they are limiting their opponents to just 61.3 points per game on 38.2 percent shooting from the field at Lawlor Events Center this season.  

It could prove to be critical for Nevada to get off to a fast start on Friday, as they own a record of 15-0 when leading at halftime this season, while in turn holding a record of 1-5 when trailing at the half.  

Nevada will need Blackshear and Lucas to have strong outings on Friday night as they aim to defend their home court against a dangerous San José State team aiming to snap a four-game losing streak. 

Scouting San José State 

San José State enters Friday night's contest with an overall record of 8-13 this season, including a mark of 1-7 in Mountain West play; however, three of their losses in conference play have come by a combined eight points.  

Offensively, the Spartans have been of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Mountain West this season, as they rank fourth in the league with a clip of 35.8 percent from behind the arc. 

On the defensive side of the court, San José State has struggled at times this season, as they rank tenth in the Mountain West in scoring defense (74.5 PPG), tenth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (37.4%), and 11th in opponent field goal percentage (47.0%). 

Individually, the Spartans have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by junior guard Myron (MJ) Amey Jr. Amey ranks first on the team and eighth in the Mountain West in scoring this season, as he is putting up 15.7 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.9 percent from behind the arc, and 80 percent at the free throw line. Amey is also pulling down a team-high 5.0 boards per game and dishing out 3.0 assists per contest. Amey has been stellar on the defensive end of the court, as he ranks sixth in the Mountain West in steals per game this season (1.6 SPG). Amey has scored in double figures in 19 of 21 contests for San José State, including scoring 20+ points in six games for the Spartans.  

6-foot-9, 205-pound senior forward Tibet Gorener ranks second on the team in scoring this season, as he is averaging 13.6 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 38.5 percent from behind the arc, and 71.2 percent at the free throw line. Gorener also ranks third on the team in rebounds per game (4.4 RPG), and he has scored in double figures in 16 games for the Spartans this season.  

Junior guard Alvaro Cardenas has been highly impressive for San José State this season, as he ranks first on the team and fifth in the Mountain West in assists per game (6.0 APG). Cardenas is also putting up 13.0 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent from behind the arc.  

Trey Anderson is the fourth Spartan averaging double figures in scoring, as he is posting 11.9 points per game and a team-high 4.8 boards per contest. Anderson holds exceptional clips of 50.3 percent shooting from the field and 42.7 percent from behind the arc.  

7-foot, 190-pound Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue fills out the San José State starting lineup, and he has provided a strong defensive presence for the Spartans this season. Diongue ranks second in the conference in blocks per game, averaging 1.7 per contest. 

Nevada will need to protect the 3-point line and receive stellar performances from Lucas and Blackshear in order to earn a victory over the Spartans and improve to 11-1 at home this season. 

Series History 

Nevada and San José State have faced off 67 times as Division I opponents throughout history, with the Pack owning a 51-16 advantage over the Spartans in the series. San José State won the most recent matchup between the two squads, an 81-77 overtime victory in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Mountain West Tournament.  

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