LAS VEGAS - Trailing by seven points at the final media timeout of the game with just 3:46 to go, the Nevada Men's Basketball team elevated their play to an unprecedented level and took complete control of the game, as they reeled off a 14-4 run over the remainder of the contest to pull off a 69-66 comeback road win over intrastate rival UNLV. 

With the victory, Nevada improved to 20-6 overall this season, including a mark of 7-5 in Mountain West play. 

The Pack dominated the Rebels on the glass throughout the game, as they outrebounded UNLV by a drastic margin of 41-20. The Pack's +21 effort on the glass was their second-highest rebounding margin in a game this season.

Nevada was tremendous defensively, as they limited UNLV to just 41.5 percent shooting from the field and 27.8 percent from behind the arc. The Pack was particularly exceptional on the defensive end of the court during the second half, as they held the Rebels to just 30 points on abysmal clips of 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 14.3 percent from behind the arc over the final 20 minutes.

Offensively, Nevada recorded 13 assists on 21 made field goals, and the Pack knocked down 22 of 26 shots at the free throw line for an outstanding clip of 84.6 percent. Nevada had a prolific second half on the offensive end of the floor, as they scored 41 points on 63.2 percent shooting from the field in the second period. 

Individually, Nick Davidson led the way for Nevada with another outstanding performance. Davidson scored a team-high 19 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line. Davidson also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, as he recorded his fifth double-double of the season and his third in the Pack's past five games. The redshirt sophomore also dished out three assists, and five of his rebounds came on the offensive glass.

Jarod Lucas poured in 18 points of his own, knocking down 4-10 shots from behind the arc and all four of his free throw attempts. Lucas was superb throughout the first half, as he scored 11 points on 3-6 shooting from behind the arc over the first 20 minutes of action.

Kenan Blackshear chipped in 12 points on 3-6 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line, in addition to pulling down seven rebounds in the game. Blackshear earned a sensational plus/minus of +18 in 34 minutes of action.

Senior guard Daniel Foster was immaculate off the bench for the Pack for the third consecutive game, as he scored six points on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field, while also pulling down five boards, dishing out three assists, and recording one steal.

Senior forward Tre Coleman also had an impactful performance for Nevada. Coleman scored six points, pulled down four rebounds, dished out three assists, and recorded one steal. The senior completed the contest with a game-high plus/minus of +20 in 27 minutes of action.

Nevada trailed for the majority of the contest; however, they came up big down the stretch and played their best basketball when it mattered the most.

First Half

After the Rebels won the opening tip, the Pack picked up a stop on defense, and Lucas drained a mid-range jumper on Nevada's first offensive possession, giving the Pack a 2-0 lead 44 seconds into the contest.

UNLV responded with a 3-pointer on the other end; but, Lucas drilled a contested 3-pointer shortly after, as Nevada retook the lead. 

The Rebels made a lone free throw at the 16:52 mark; however, Lucas' sensational start to the game continued, as he splashed another 3-pointer with 16:28 left in the first half, as Nevada took an 8-4 advantage over UNLV.

The Rebels reeled off a quick 5-0 run to take a 9-8 edge over the Pack at the 13:53 mark.

The two squads continued to go back-and-forth over the next 5:44, finding themselves deadlocked at 20 points apiece with 8:09 to go until halftime. 

UNLV put together a 7-0 run over the next 2:07, as they built a 27-20 advantage over Nevada with just over six minutes left in the first period. 

Nevada responded in strong fashion, following up the Rebels' run with an 8-0 run of their own to construct a 28-27 lead with 3:08 remaining in the half. Davidson sparked the run, as he pulled down a tough offensive rebound and hit a mid-range jumper. After a defensive stop, Blackshear knocked down a pair of free throws. Davidson then knocked down two free throws of his own; and, he completed the run shortly after, as he flushed a massive two-handed slam. 

UNLV had an answer to Nevada's run, as they outscored the Pack 9-0 over the final 3:08 of the first half and Nevada trailed 36-28 at the break.

Second Half

Blackshear opened up the scoring in the second half, splashing a mid-range jumper on Nevada's first possession to cut the deficit to six points with 19:16 remaining in the game. 

The Rebels responded with a bucket on the other end; however, Coleman drained a 3-pointer off a beautiful pass from Davidson to bring the Pack within five, as they trailed 38-33.

UNLV responded with a quick 5-0 run, as they took a 10-point lead over the Pack at the 17:40 mark.

Nevada once again battled back, putting together an 8-0 run over the next 2:09 to get within two points of UNLV, as they trailed 43-41. The run began with a contested hook shot from K.J. Hymes that dropped straight through the net. Hymes then recorded a monstrous block on defense; and finished an and-one layup on the other end of the court, going on to convert the free throw. After another Wolf Pack stop, Lucas buried his fourth 3-pointer of the night to complete the run.  

UNLV had an answer once again, as every time the Pack got within striking distance, the Rebels found a way to respond. UNLV used a 13-4 over the next 6:21 to take an 11-point lead over the Pack, as Nevada faced a 56-45 deficit with just 9:10 left in the game. 

Back-to-back buckets from Blackshear and Davidson, followed by a lone free throw from Coleman and Davidson each pulled Nevada within five points of UNLV with 7:13 remaining; but, the Rebels scored outscored Nevada 6-2 over the next 1:42, as the Pack found themselves trailing 62-53 with 5:31 on the clock.

Facing a nine-point deficit with limited time left in the game, Nevada began to make their final push.

Davidson knocked down a pair of free throws at the 5:06 mark, before the two teams went scoreless over the next 1:20 ahead of the final media timeout. 

Trailing 62-55 with 3:46 to go, the Pack came out of the timeout with a new demeanor. Nevada showed unbelievable grit and poise down the stretch, as they refused to let the late deficit phase them.

Foster got things started for the Pack out of the timeout, as Blackshear found him open in the paint and proceeded to finish a layup at the rim, bringing Nevada within five. 

After an instrumental defensive stop, Davidson scored a bucket in the paint, as Nevada trailed 62-59 with 2:47 to go. 

The Pack forced the Rebels into another missed shot on their next possession; and Blackshear took the ball coast-to-coast and put up a soft floater that found the bottom of the net, as Nevada trailed by just one point with 2:13 left. 

The Rebels took a timeout after Blackshear's bucket. Out of the timeout, UNLV threw a pass out of bounds, giving possession back to Nevada. The Pack took advantage of the opportunity, as Davidson was fouled and went on to make both free throws, recapturing the lead for Nevada and marking their first lead since the 3:08 mark in the first period. 

UNLV got a bucket on the other end to take a 64-63 lead over the Pack with 1:16 left on the clock. 

After a missed shot by Nevada, Davidson corralled a massive offensive rebound and found Foster in the paint who completed a crafty layup through contact, giving the Pack a 65-64 edge with 47 seconds remaining. 

The Rebels missed two free throws with 20 seconds left on the other end and were forced to foul. Lucas drew the foul, stepped up to the line, and calmly knocked down both free throws, as Nevada held a 67-64 lead with 16 seconds to go. 

UNLV scored a bucket with 10 seconds left, and after the bucket, fouled Lucas yet again. Lucas repeated his first performance at the line, as he stepped up in front of a raucous crowd and once again calmly splashed a pair of free throws, pushing Nevada's lead back up to three points. 

The Rebels came down with one final opportunity to tie the game; however, the Pack played exceptional defense on the final possession, forcing UNLV into a difficult contested 3-pointer that came up short, as Nevada went on to earn the remarkable 69-66 comeback win over UNLV.

Nevada led for just one minute and two seconds in the second period, as they remained composed throughout the half despite trailing for the majority of it and elevated their play to a new level, taking command of the game when it mattered the most. 

Notable Stats:

• Nick Davidson scored 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, marking his fifth double-double of the season and his third in Nevada's past five games.

• Nevada outrebounded UNLV, 41-20. 

• The Pack pulled down 13 offensive rebounds throughout the game, marking their third-highest total in a Mountain West game this season. 

• After scoring 19 points in the game, Jarod Lucas eclipsed 1,000 points for his Nevada career, and he is just 17 points shy of reaching 2,000 points for his entire collegiate career.

• All nine players who saw action for Nevada in the game pulled down at least one rebound. 

Up Next

Nevada will have a quick turnaround as they are set to return to Lawlor Events Center to face Wyoming this Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Follow The Pack

Follow Nevada Men's Basketball on social media at @NevadaHoops (X), @nevadahoops (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaMBB