Nevada (22-6, 9-5) vs. Colorado State (20-8, 8-7)

Tuesday, Feb. 27 - 7:30 p.m. (PT) - Moby Arena

TV: FS1 (Derek Clark // Casey Jacobsen)

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

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

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

RENO, Nev. - Winning six of their past seven games, including three consecutive contests, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will put their streak on the line Tuesday evening, as they are slated to take on Colorado State in Fort Collins.

Tuesday night's contest is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. (PT), and the game will be available for viewing on FS1. 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 is coming off an 84-63 road victory over San José State, in which the Pack put together a sensational second half performance, propelling them to the dominant 21-point win. 

The Pack had one of its most impressive halves of the season over the final 20 minutes, particularly on the offensive end of the court. The Pack shot an astonishing 64.0 percent from the field (16-25), including a superb clip of 75.0 percent from behind the arc (75.0%) on their way to a 50-point second half. 

Nevada recorded 22 assists on 30 made field goals, and the Pack dominated the Spartans on the glass, completing the game with a 46-23 edge in rebounding. 

Defensively, Nevada limited San José State to just 63 points on 39.7 percent shooting from the field and 34.6 percent from behind the arc. 

Individually, the Pack had a multitude of exceptional individual performances, led by redshirt sophomore Nick Davidson.

Davidson was outstanding in the contest, as he scored a game-high 23 points on a near-perfect 8-9 shooting from the field, including 2-2 from behind the arc. Davidson also pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds in the game, marking his sixth double-double of the season and his fourth in the Pack's past seven games. 

Davidson has been sensational throughout the  month of February, as he has taken his game to new heights and helped lead the Pack to a tremendous mark of 6-1 throughout the month thus far. Over the Pack's seven games in February, Davidson is averaging 19.0 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from behind the arc, and 71.9 percent at the free throw line, in addition to pulling down 9.1 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in all seven games for the Pack, including scoring 19+ points in five of seven contests. 

Davidson continues to rank among the top-25 of the Mountain West in a variety of different statistical categories this season. Entering Tuesday night's contest, Davidson is sixth in the conference in rebounding (7.3 RPG), 13th in field goal percentage (56.6%), 20th in blocks (0.7 BPG), and 22nd in points per game (12.6 PPG). Davidson's numbers have continued to increase as the season has progressed. His play has not only taken a significant step up in the month of February but his numbers have vastly improved during conference play. Davidson is averaging 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while holding clips of 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc. During the non-conference portion of the season, Davidson was averaging just 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from behind the arc.

Jarod Lucas had another superb offensive performance in the Pack's victory at San José State, as he scored 20 points on an efficient 7-12 shooting from the field, 2-4 from behind the arc, and 7-8 at the free throw line. Lucas also recorded a team-high two steals in the contest. Lucas, one of the most prolific scorers on the entire West Coast, has now reached double figures in scoring in 25 of 28 games this season for the Pack, including scoring 20+ points in 10 games this season. The fifth-year senior continues to rank within the top-15 of the Mountain West in a plethora of individual statistical categories this season. Lucas is second in the conference in free throw percentage (91.4%), third in made free throws (128), fourth in scoring (17.2 PPG), sixth in made 3-pointers (63), and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9%). 

Kenan Blackshear did not have his best offensive performance in the win over San José State; however, the fifth-year senior dished out nine assists, marking his second-most in a contest this season. Blackshear, one of the premier point guards in the country, ranks within the top-25 of the Mountain West in numerous statistical categories. Blackshear is currently seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.9 APG), tenth in scoring (15.2 PPG), 13th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 17th in rebounds per game (5.0 RPG), and 25th in field goal percentage (49.7%).

Lucas and Blackshear are the highest scoring duo in the Mountain West, and they have been essential to Nevada's success this season. In the Pack's 22 wins, Lucas is averaging 18.2 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting from the field, 43.0 percent from behind the arc, and 92.6 percent at the free throw line, while making 5.1 free throws per game and 2.4 3-pointers per contest. In Nevada's six losses, 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, and he is making just 2.7 free throws and 1.8 3-pointers per contest. 

Blackshear has been equally vital to Nevada's success. In the Pack's 22 season victories, he is averaging 16.0 points per game on 52.6 percent shooting from the field, as well as pulling down 5.1 boards per contest and dishing out 4.9 assists per game. In Nevada's six defeats, Blackshear is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and recording 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 38.8 percent from the field. Nevada is 13-1 this season when Lucas and Blackshear combine to score for 30+ points. 

Senior forward Tre Coleman maintained his recent stretch of immaculate play in the victory over San José State, as he nearly recorded a triple-double. Coleman scored 12 points on 5-9 shooting from the field, including 2-4 from behind the arc, in addition to dishing out eight assists and matching a career-high by pulling down nine rebounds. Over the Pack's past two games, Coleman is averaging 16.0 points per game on 57.1 percent shooting from the field and 54.5 percent from behind the arc, while also dishing out 6.0 assists, pulling down 5.0 rebounds, and recording 2.0 steals per contest. Coleman, one of the premier defensive players in the country, is 10th in the Mountain West in steals per game (1.4 SPG) entering Tuesday night's contest.

Similar to Davidson, Coleman has continued to improve his play as the season has progressed, and he has been particularly impressive in conference play. Since the commencing of Mountain West play, Coleman is averaging 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from behind the arc. During the non-conference portion of the schedule, Coleman averaged just 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, while holding clips of 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 20.6 percent from behind the arc. 

The Pack received a significant boost off the bench from fifth-year senior guard Hunter McIntosh in the victory over San José State. In what was arguably McIntosh's best performance as a member of the Pack, the fifth-year senior matched a season-high by scoring 18 points on 6-9 shooting from behind the arc. The six 3-pointers matched a career-high for McIntosh, and he also dished out two assists in the game. 

Senior guard Daniel Foster continued to play at a tremendous level in the win at San José State. Foster only scored three points; but, he pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds throughout the game. Foster has been rebounding at an elite level for Nevada as of late; and, over the Pack's past five games, he is averaging an impressive 6.4 boards per contest. 

Nationally, just as they have done throughout the season, Nevada continues to rank as one of the premier defensive squads in the country. The Pack is currently 38th in the nation in scoring defense (66.3 PPG) and 54th in opponent field goal percentage (41.3%). 

Nevada also continues to rank as one of the most prolific teams in the country at taking care of the ball. Entering Tuesday, the Pack ranks 27th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.53), 29th in the nation in turnovers per game (9.9), and 52nd in the country in turnover margin (+2.4). 

Nevada had one of their best performances of the season in the previous contest against Colorado State, as they earned a 77-64 victory over the Rams at Lawlor Events Center. Lucas led the way with one of his best performances of the season, as he scored a game-high 28 points on 10-14 shooting from the field, 3-3 from behind the arc, and 5-5 at the free throw line. Nevada was tremendous on the defensive end of the court, as they limited the Rams to just 64 points on 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 26.1 percent from behind the arc. 

Nevada will aim to secure their 23rd overall season victory and 10th in Mountain West play on Tuesday night; however, an extremely talented Colorado State team that plays at an incredible level on their home court will stand in the way of the Pack's aspirations. 

Scouting Colorado State

Colorado State, led by Head Coach Niko Medved, enters Tuesday night's matchup with an overall record of 20-8, including a mark of 8-7 in Mountain West play. 

The Rams have lost back-to-back contests; however, both games were on the road, and they have been far superior on their home court this season. 

Colorado State owns an exceptional record of 14-1 at home this season, with an average scoring margin of +15.2 points per game. 

The Rams have consistently been one of the most prolific offensive units in the country throughout this season. Entering Tuesday's contest, Colorado State ranks 86th in the nation in points per game (76.9 PPG), in addition to ranking 17th in the country in field goal percentage (49.1%) and 29th in the country in free throw percentage (76.3%).

Individually, the Rams are led by one of the premier players in the country in fifth-year senior guard Isaiah Stevens. Stevens, a four-time All-MW honoree, Wooden Award Top 25 Watchlist, and Bob Cousy Award Midseason list honoree, is averaging a team-high 16.4 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting from the field, 46.5 percent from behind the arc, and 82.4 percent at the free throw line. Stevens also leads the Mountain West and ranks third in the nation in assists per game (7.4 APG). Nevada did an exceptional job defensively on Stevens duringthe first matchup between the two squads, limiting him to eight points on 4-16 shooting from the field. The Pack will need to have a similar defensive effort on Tuesday night to earn a victory, as Stevens has been one of the best playmakers in college basketball throughout the season. 

Senior guard and Colorado transfer Nique Clifford has had an outstanding season in his first year as a member of the Colorado State program. Clifford is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game this season. The senior has shot the ball at an incredibly high level, as he holds clips of 53.8 percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent from behind the arc. Clifford is also pulling down a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game, and he has proven to be a formidable defender, as he is averaging a team-high 1.4 steals per contest. 

6-foot-7 forward Joel Scott is third on the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.1 points per game on 55.6 percent shooting from the field. Scott is also averaging 6.1 rebounds per game, and he leads the team with 25 blocks this season. 

6-foot-8 forward Patrick Cartier is the fourth Colorado State player averaging double figures in scoring this season, as he is putting up 11.1 points per game on 53.5 percent shooting from the field, 38.4 percent from behind the arc, and 84.0 percent at the free throw line. 

Nevada will have to limit the production of Stevens and protect the 3-point line on Tuesday night if they hope to earn their 23rd victory of the season and hand the Rams just their second home loss this year. 

Series History

Nevada and Colorado State have faced off 26 times throughout history, with the Pack owning a 15-11 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