Nevada (20-6, 7-5) vs. Wyoming (13-12, 6-6)

Tuesday, Feb. 20 - 8 p.m. - Lawlor Events Center

TV: CBSSN (Chris Lewis // Steve Wolf)

Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/fmpu6

Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/guDV6

Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app (John Ramey // Len Stevens)

RENO, Nev. - Coming off a thrilling 69-66 road victory over intrastate rival UNLV, the Nevada Men's Basketball team is set to return to Lawlor Events Center on Tuesday evening to host Wyoming in a critical Mountain West rematch.

Tuesday night's contest is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. and the game will be available for viewing on CBS Sports Network. The contest will air over the radio on KNEV 95.5 FM and through the Varsity Network app, beginning with a pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip. 

Nevada earned a remarkable comeback victory Saturday on the road over a UNLV team that entered the contest on a five-game winning streak. The Pack erased a seven-point deficit with just 3:46 remaining in the game, as a 14-4 run to end the contest propelled Nevada to the incredible victory.

The Pack dominated the Rebels on the glass, outrebounding UNLV 41-20 throughout the game. The +21 effort in rebounding marked Nevada's second largest rebounding margin in a game this season. 

The Pack entered the contest with a record of 1-6 while trailing at halftime, with the one victory coming over Hawaii after trailing by just one point at the break. Nevada trailed by eight points at the half against the Rebels, and the deficit reached double figures multiple seperate times in the second period; however, the Pack showed tremendous poise and resiliency, as they continued to battle back over the final 20 minutes and managed to pull off the outstanding win.

Nick Davidson was sensational in the game for Nevada, as he scored a team-high 19 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 7-8 at the free throw line. Davidson also managed to pull down a game-high 11 boards, as he recorded his fifth double-double of the season, and his third in the Pack's past five games. The redshirt sophomore logged a career-high 36 minutes and he managed to dish out three assists in addition to the 19-point, 11-rebound performance. 

Davidson has been playing at an incredible level as of late; and, over Pack's past five games, he is averaging 19.8 points per game on 63.3 percent shooting from the field and 73.9 percent from behind the arc, while also grabbing 8.8 boards per contest. Davidson has accumulated 15 offensive rebounds over the stretch, and he has also buried six shots from behind the arc. 

Davidson has significantly elevated his play as the season has continued to progress, and he has performed at his best in Mountain West play. The redshirt sophomore is averaging 14.1 points per game on 56.4 percent shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down 7.2 boards per contest in conference play. In the Pack's 14 non-conference games, Davidson posted averages of 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Entering Tuesday night's matchup, Davidson ranks seventh in the conference in rebounds per game (7.1 RPG) and 15th in field goal percentage (55.5%). 

Jarod Lucas also had a stellar outing in the victory over UNLV, as he scored 18 points, while burying 4-10 shots from behind the arc. Lucas, one of the most prolific scorers on the entire West Coast has now reached double figures in scoring in 23 of 26 games for the Pack this season, and the fifth-year senior is just 17 points away from reaching the 2,000-point scoring mark for his career.

Lucas continues to rank within the top-15 of the Mountain West this season in a multitude of categories. Entering Tuesday, Lucas ranks third in the conference in made free throws (117), fourth in scoring (17.0 PPG), fourth in free throw percentage (91.4%), seventh in made 3-pointers (57), and 14th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.3%).

Lucas has been exceptional at Lawlor Events Center this season, as he is averaging 18.1 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting from the field and an exceptional 43.7 percent from behind the arc across Nevada's 14 home contests.

Kenan Blackshear did not have his best offensive performance in the win over the Rebels; however, he still managed to score 12 points, eight of which came in the second period, while also pulling down nine rebounds throughout the game. 

Heading into Tuesday's contest, Blackshear ranks within the top-25 of the Mountain West in a plethora of different statistical categories. Blackshear is seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.6 APG), eighth in scoring (15.8 PPG), 12th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 18th in rebounds per game (5.0 RPG), and 23rd in field goal percentage (50.2%). 

Lucas and Blackshear have been vitally important to Nevada's success this season. In the Pack's 20 victories, Lucas is averaging 18.1 points per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the field, 42.6 percent from behind the arc, and 92.7 percent at the free throw line, while averaging 5.1 made free throws and 2.3 made 3-pointers per contest. In Nevada's six defeats, Lucas is averaging just 13.5 points per game on 36.5 percent shooting from the field, 29.7 percent from behind the arc, and 84.2 percent at the free throw line, while making 2.7 free throws and 1.8 3-pointers per contest. Blackshear has been essential to Nevada's success this season. The fifth-year senior is averaging 17.0 points per game on 53.4 percent shooting from the field, in addition to dishing out 4.5 assists, grabbing 5.1 rebounds, and recording 1.5 steals per game in the Pack's 20 wins this season. In Nevada's six losses, Blackshear is averaging just 12.0 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting from the field, as well as grabbing 4.7 rebounds and tallying 1.3 steals per contest. Lucas and Blackshear are the highest scoring duo in the Mountain West, and Nevada is 13-1 this season when they combine to score 30+ points.

For the third consecutive game, Nevada received a tremendous boost off the bench from senior guard Daniel Foster in the victory over UNLV. Foster scored six points, four of which came during the Pack's 14-4 run to close out the game, and the senior also pulled down five rebounds in the contest. In the Pack's previous three contests, Foster is averaging 3.3 points per game on 75.0 percent shooting from the field and a perfect 100.0 percent at the free throw line, in addition to pulling 6.3 boards per contest. 

Tre Coleman and K.J. Hymes also played instrumental roles in Nevada's massive road victory over UNLV this past Saturday. Coleman scored six points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists, and recorded one steal, while completing the contest with a game-high plus/minus of +20. Hymes scored six points, five of which came in the second period, while also grabbing three rebounds and recording two blocks. Hymes has been highly efficient this season, as he ranks fifth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (61.7%). 

Nationally, Nevada continues to boast one of the premier defensive units in the country. Nevada currently ranks 48th in the nation in scoring defense (66.8 PPG) and 53rd in the country in opponent field goal percentage (41.4%). 

The Pack also continues to rank as one of the most prolific teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball. Nevada is 25th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.9), 32nd in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.5), and 54th in the nation in turnover margin (2.5). 

Nevada has been sensational at Lawlor Events Center since the start of the 2022-23 season, as the Pack boasts a record of 26-3 at home since the beginning of last season.

This season, Nevada is 12-2 at home with an average scoring margin of +16.1. The Pack has been exceptional on the defensive end of the court at home this season, as they are limiting opponents to just 63.1 points per game on clips of 39.5 percent shooting from the field and 32.1 percent from behind the arc. 

Tuesday night's contest will serve as a Mountain West rematch, as Nevada suffered a loss on the road to Wyoming earlier this season. The Pack struggled defensively in the contest, as they surrendered a season-high 98 points to the Cowboys, while allowing them to shoot 57.7 percent from the field and 56.5 percent from behind the arc. 

Nevada will aim to earn their 21st victory of the season on Tuesday night; however, a talented Wyoming team that has won the previous seven contests in the series stands in the way of the Pack's aspirations. 

Scouting Wyoming

Wyoming enters Tuesday night's contest with an overall record of 13-12 this season, including a mark of 6-6 in Mountain West play, as the Cowboys sit just one game behind Nevada in the standings. 

Wyoming is coming off an 80-75 road win over San Jose State this past Saturday. 

The Cowboys are one of the premier 3-point shooting teams in the country this season, as they rank first in the Mountain West and 18th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (37.7%). 

Wyoming has also shot the ball exceptionally well at the free throw line this year, as they rank second in the conference and 61st in the country in free throw percentage (74.8%).

The Cowboys have been solid on the glass this season, ranking fifth in the conference in rebounding margin (+2.0) entering Tuesday's contest.

As good as the Cowboys have been offensively, they have struggled on the defensive end of the court. Wyoming ranks 11th in the Mountain West in opponent points per game (75.3 PPG), eighth in opponent field goal percentage (45.7%), and eighth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (33.6%).

Individually, Wyoming boasts one of the most prolific back court trios in the Mountain West with senior guards Sam Griffin, Akuel Kot, and Brendan Wenzel.

Griffin ranks first on the team and second overall in the Mountain West in scoring this season, as he is averaging 17.9 points per game, while shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from behind the arc, and 84.6 percent at the free throw line. Griffin has reached double figures in scoring in 22 of 25 games this season, including scoring 20+ points in 11 games for the Cowboys. Griffin has buried 61 3-pointers this season, as he is one of the most dangerous scorers from behind the arc in the Mountain West. 

Kot, a 2022-23 Division II First Team All-American, has been highly impressive in his first season with the Cowboys. The senior ranks second on the team and 13th in the conference in scoring, as he is averaging 14.7 points per game on clips of 43.9 percent shooting from the field, 40.2 percent from behind the arc, and 86.1 percent at the free throw line. 

Wenzel is also averaging double-figures in scoring, as he is putting up 10.8 points per game, while shooting 34.6 percent from behind the arc and 82.4 percent at the free throw line. The senior is third on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.4 boards per contest.

Senior forward Mason Walters, the 2022-23 NAIA National Player of the Year, has had a strong season for the Cowboys. Walters is averaging 12.9 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the field and 80.6 percent at the free throw line, in addition to pulling down 5.5 boards per contest. 

6-foot-9 freshman forward Cam Manyawu has had a solid campaign for Wyoming, as he and Walters have proven to be a formidable front court duo. Manyawu is averaging 7.0 points per game, while also pulling down a team-high 6.1 rebounds per contest.

Nevada will have to protect the 3-point line and limit Griffin's offensive production if they hope to earn their 21st victory of the season and defeat the Cowboys on Tuesday night. 

Series History

Nevada and Wyoming have faced off 30 times throughout history, with the Cowboys owning a 21-9 advantage in the all-time series. 

Follow The Pack

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