Nevada (21-6, 8-5) vs. San José State (9-18, 2-12)

Friday, Feb. 23 - 7 p.m. - Credit Union Event Center

TV: FS1 (Trent Rush // Casey Jacobsen)

Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network (John Ramey // Ashlee Jones)

Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/iwxX2

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

RENO, Nev. - Winning five of their past six games and entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will begin a pivotal two-game road swing at San José State on Friday evening.

Friday night's contest is slated to tip off at 7 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, beginning with a pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip. 

Nevada is coming off a convincing 76-58 victory over Wyoming this past Tuesday, in which they led by as much as 29 points and maintained a lead for 38 minutes and 43 seconds throughout the contest, avenging a road loss to the Cowboys that occurred earlier this season.

Nevada dominated the game from start to finish, and the victory marked the Pack's 21st win of the season, as they are one win away from matching their win total from last year.

Nevada was exceptional on both ends of the court against the Cowboys. Offensively, the Pack shot 48.1 percent from the field, as well as an outstanding 42.3 percent from behind the arc, while matching a season-high by draining 11 3-pointers. Nevada recorded 19 assists on 26 made field goals, and the Pack had just seven turnovers throughout the game. Despite draining 11 3-pointers, Nevada still did a tremendous job of getting to the rim, as the Pack outscored Wyoming in the paint, 28-22.

On the defensive end of the floor, Nevada stifled the Cowboys throughout the contest. The Pack held Wyoming to their second-lowest scoring output of the season (58 points), while limiting the Cowboys to just 41.7 percent shooting from the field, including a paltry clip of 26.3 percent from behind the arc. The Pack recorded 12 steals and four blocks, while forcing Wyoming into 15 turnovers. 

Individually, Senior forward Tre Coleman was phenomenal in the contest, as he achieved the third-highest scoring total of his collegiate career with a 20-point outing. Coleman reached 20 points on a highly efficient 7-12 shooting from the field, 4-7 from behind the arc, and 2-2 at the free throw line. The senior also dished out four assists and recorded three steals, while earning a plus/minus of +21 in 35 minutes of action. 

Coleman, a 2022-23 All-MW Defensive Team honoree, has been one of the premier defensive players in the conference again this season. The senior has also significantly elevated his game since the Pack commenced conference play in early January. In Nevada's 13 Mountain West games, Coleman is averaging 9.6 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent from behind the arc, while also averaging 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. In the non-conference portion of the season, Coleman was averaging 7.6 points per game on 20.6 percent shooting from behind the arc, as well as 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, as he has taken his play to the next level since entering conference play.

Jarod Lucas scored 19 points in the victory over Wyoming, as he eclipsed the 2,000-point scoring mark for his collegiate career late in the second half. Lucas drained 4-9 shots from behind the arc and 7-8 shots at the free throw line against the Cowboys. One of the most prolific scorers on the entire West Coast, Lucas has now reached double figures in scoring in 23 of 26 games for Nevada this season. The fifth-year senior continues to rank among the top-15 of the Mountain West in a variety of different individual statistical categories. Lucas is currently second in the conference in free throw percentage (91.2%), third in made free throws (124), fourth in scoring (17.1 PPG), seventh in made 3-pointers (61), and 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.6%). 

Lucas' back court mate, Kenan Blackshear, scored 10 points on an efficient 4-6 shooting from the field, in addition to dishing out a game-high eight assists in Nevada's victory over Wyoming. The eight assists match Blackshear's second-highest total in a game this season. The fifth-year senior has been one of the premier point guards in the country this season, and he continues to rank within the top-25 of the Mountain West in a multitude of statistical categories. Entering Friday night's contest, Blackshear is seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.7 APG), ninth in scoring (15.6 PPG), 10th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 17th in rebounds per game (5.0 RPG), and 21st in field goal percentage (50.5%). 

Blackshear has played exceptionally well on the road this season, and Nevada will need him to maintain his level of play away from home on the upcoming two-game road swing. In 12 contests away from Lawlor Events Center this season, Blackshear is averaging 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. His two highest scoring outputs of the season came away from home, as he dropped a career-high 31 points in the Pack's victory at Washington, before pouring in a game-high 30 points in Nevada's win over Georgia Tech to secure the 2023 Diamond Head Classic Championship. Blackshear has also played at an elite level in the second half of contests this season for the Pack, as he has consistently elevated his game at the end of matchups. Over the final 20 minutes of games this season, Blackshear is averaging 8.9 points on 55.3 percent shooting from the field. 

Lucas and Blackshear are the highest-scoring duo in the Mountain West, and they have been absolutely vital to Nevada's success this season. In the Pack's 21 victories, Lucas is averaging 18.1 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from behind the arc; and, he is making 5.1 free throws and 2.4 3-pointers per contest. In Nevada's six defeats, Lucas is averaging just 13.5 points per game on 29.7 percent shooting from behind the arc, while making 2.7 free throws and 1.8 3-pointers per contest. Blackshear has been equally important to Nevada's success, as he is averaging 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 53.7 percent from the field in the Pack's wins this season. In Nevada's losses, Blackshear is averaging 12.0 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting from the field, as well as 4.7 boards and 1.3 steals per contest. Nevada is 13-1 this season when Lucas and Blackshear combine to score 30+ points.

Nick Davidson had another strong performance for the Pack in the victory over Wyoming, as he scored 11 points on 4-8 shooting from the field and 2-4 from behind the arc, while also grabbing five rebounds and recording two steals in the game. Davidson has been outstanding over the past six games for Nevada, beginning with the Pack's home contest against San José State on February 2. Over Nevada's current 5-1 stretch, Davidson is averaging 18.3 points per game on 61.8 percent shooting from the field, 72.0 percent at the free throw line, and 34.8 percent from behind the arc, in addition to grabbing 8.2 boards per contest. Davidson is seventh in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (7.0 RPG) and 14th in field goal percentage (55.3%). 

Nationally, Nevada continues to rank as one of the premier defensive squads in the country this season. Entering Friday's contest, the Pack ranks 41st in the nation in scoring defense (66.4 PPG), 56th in the country in opponent field goal percentage (41.4%), and 85th in the nation in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (31.9%). 

On the offensive side of the court, Nevada has been sensational at taking care of the ball this season. The Pack is currently tied for 22nd in the country in fewest turnovers per game (9.8), tied for 28th in assist/turnover ratio (1.52), 40th in turnover margin (+2.7). The Pack has also continued to do an outstanding job of getting to the free throw line, as they are 11th in the country in free throw attempts per game (24.8). 

Nevada has been impressive away from Lawlor Events Center this season, entering Friday night's contest with a record of 8-4 in road/neutral contests this year, including a mark of 5-3 in true road contests. The Pack has won the last two road games, earning impressive victories over then No. 22 Utah State (Feb. 6) before defeating intrastate rival UNLV in Las Vegas this past Saturday.

Nevada dominated San José State in the first matchup of the season between two squads, earning a commanding 90-60 victory over the Spartans. Davidson led the way with arguably the best performance of his career, as he dropped a career-high 25 points, in addition to pulling down 11 rebounds and dishing out three assists. Lucas also had a solid night, scoring 20 points on 8-15 shooting from the field. 

Nevada will aim to pick up their sixth victory in the month of February and defeat San José State for the second time this season; however, the Spartans have played much better on their home court this year, as they look to get back in the win column following back-to-back defeats.

Scouting San José State

San José State enters Friday night's contest with an overall record of 9-18 this season, including a mark of 2-12 in Mountain West play. 

The Spartans have played at a much higher level on their home court than on the road this season, as they own a record of 6-7 at the Credit Union Event Center.

San José State has been one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Mountain West this year, as they hold a stellar clip of 35.2 percent from behind the arc throughout the season. The Spartans also rank second in the conference in made 3-pointers (233) and average 3-pointers per game (8.6) this season, as they have shot the ball incredibly well from behind the arc all season.

The Spartans have struggled defensively at times, as they rank 10th in the Mountain West in scoring defense (74.7 PPG) and 11th in both opponent field goal percentage (47.1%) and opponent 3-point field goal percentage (38.1%). 

San José State boasts an experienced and highly—skilled back court with junior guards Alvaro Cardenas and Myron Amey, Jr. 

Amey, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, ranks first on the team and eighth in the Mountain West in scoring this season, as he is averaging 15.7 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting from the field, 36.0 percent from behind the arc, and 77.9 percent at the free throw line, while also leading the team in rebounding (4.8 RPG). The junior has proven to be a formidable defender, as he ranks fourth in the conference in steals per game (1.6 SPG). Amey has played at an incredibly high level at home for the Spartans, and he is averaging 18.6 points per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the field, 38.3 percent from behind the arc, and 86.5 percent at the free throw line in 13 home contests for SJSU this season.

Cardenas has also been impressive for the Spartans this season, as he ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.9 points per game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from behind the arc, and 79.7 percent at the free throw line. Cardenas is an exceptional facilitator, and he ranks first on the team and sixth in the conference in assists per game (5.5 APG). 

6-foot-7 Junior forward and South Carolina transfer Trey Anderson has had a solid season for San José State; and, entering Friday's contest, he ranks fourth on the team in scoring (11.2 PPG) and third in rebounding (4.2 RPG). Anderson is a three-level scorer, and he holds impressive clips of 49.5 percent shooting from the field, 41.6 percent from behind the arc, and 77.5 percent at the free throw line.

6-foot-9 senior forward Tibet Gorener is the fourth Spartan player averaging double figures in scoring, as he is putting up 12.3 points per game and is knocking down 36.0 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts this season. 

Nevada will need to protect the 3-point line and limit the production of Amey and Cardenas in order to secure their 22nd victory of the season on Friday night, and improve to 6-3 in true road contests. 

Series History

Nevada and San José State have faced off 68 times throughout history, with the Pack holding a 52-16 advantage in the series. 

Follow The Pack

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