Nevada (17-5, 4-4) vs. #22 Utah State (19-3, 7-2)

Tuesday, Feb. 6 - 6 p.m. (PT) - Dee Glen Smith Spectrum 

TV: NSN/Mountain West Network

Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/FPRT5

Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/HKOV1

Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app

Reno, Nev. - Coming off one of their most complete games of the season, a 90-60 victory over San Jose State, the Nevada Men's Basketball team will face one of their most challenging tests to date, as they are set to take on #22 Utah State on the road on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday's contest is slated to tip off at 6 p.m. (PT) and will be available for viewing on Nevada Sports Net and the Mountain West Network. The game will air over the radio on KNEV 95.5 FM and through the Varsity Network app.

Last Friday, the Pack put on a masterful performance on both ends of the court in their dominant 30-point win over San Jose State. Offensively, Nevada shot 48.3 percent from the field, including an exceptional clip of 47.8 percent from behind the arc. The Pack recorded 23 assists on 29 field goals and pulled down a season-high 18 offensive rebounds; and, Nevada's bench dropped 32 points. The Pack also completed the contest with just five turnovers. 

Nevada was equally as impressive on the the other end of the court, limiting the Spartans to their lowest scoring output in conference play on just 40 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from behind the arc. The Pack scored 19 points off 10 San Jose State turnovers, and the Spartans only managed to get to the free throw line nine times throughout the contest.

Nick Davidson had the best performance of his collegiate career, as the redshirt sophomore scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in the victory over SJSU, marking his third double double of the season. Davidson reached 22 points on a highly efficient 8-12 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from behind the arc. The eight made field goals marked a new career-high, and the shots from behind the arc matched his career-high. Seven of Davidson's 11 boards came on the offensive glass, and he also dished out three assists in the game.

Davidson continues to rank as one of the premier rebounding forwards in the Mountain West, as he is eighth in the conference in rebounds per game entering Tuesday night's contest (6.9 RPG). Davidson is also 16th in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (53.45) and 17th in blocks per game (0.8 BPG). 

Jarod Lucas got back on track after struggling in the Pack's previous outing at New Mexico. In the win over San Jose State, Lucas dropped 20 points on 8-15 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from behind the arc. Lucas also grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists, and recorded one steal. The fifth-year senior completed the contest with a game-high plus/minus of +39 in 28 minutes of action.

Lucas, one of the elite scorers on the West Coast, has now scored 20+ points in nine games this season for the Pack, and he has also knocked 3+ 3-pointers in nine contests.

The fifth-year senior ranks fourth in the Mountain West in scoring (17.3 PPG), fourth in free throw percentage (91.6%), seventh in made 3-pointers (49), and 16th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.5%).

Lucas has been arguably Nevada's biggest key to success this season, as he has been sensational in wins and has struggled in losses. In the Pack's 17 wins, Lucas is averaging 18.8 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field, 43.5 percent from behind the arc, and 93.5 percent at the free throw line, as well as 2.9 boards per contest. In Nevada's five losses, Lucas is averaging just 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. Lucas is also making 2.4 3-pointers and 5.2 free throws per game in wins, while only making 1.8 3-pointers and 2.2 free throws per contest in losses.

Kenan Blackshear also returned to form in the Pack's victory over San Jose State. Despite not reaching his typical scoring output, Blackshear had an all-around stellar performance. The fifth-year senior scored 10 points on 4-5 shooting from the field, in addition to tallying a game-high six assists and recording one steal.

Blackshear has now scored in double figures in 18 of 22 games this season, and the six assists against the Spartans marked the sixth time this season that he has recorded 6+ assists in a game. 

Blackshear continues to rank within the top-25 of the Mountain West in numerous individual statistical categories. Heading into Tuesday night's contest, Blackshear ranks seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.8 APG), eighth in the conference in scoring (15.5 PPG), 12th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 20th in rebounds per game (4.9 RPG), and 21st in field goal percentage (51.2%). 

Similar to Lucas, Blackshear has been critical to the Pack's success this season. In the Pack's 17 victories, the fifth-year senior is averaging 16.9 points per game on 54.5 percent shooting from the field, as well as 5.1 boards and 4.9 assists per game. In Nevada's five losses, Blackshear is averaging 11.0 points per game on 38.9 percent shooting, 4.4 boards, and 4.4 assists per game. 

Blackshear has been impressive in road/neutral games for Nevada this season, as he is averaging 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in the Pack's 10 contests away from Lawlor Events Center. Blackshear posted the two highest single-game scoring outputs of his career in road/neutral contests this season, dropping a career-high 31 points at Washington before scoring 30 points in a neutral site game against Georgia Tech.

Nevada is 12-0 this season when Blackshear and Lucas combine to score 30+ points; whereas, the Pack is just 5-5 in contests when the duo fails to eclipse the 30-point mark. 

Nevada received outstanding contributions off the bench in the win over San Jose State, led by Tylan Pope and freshman guard Tyler Rolison.

Pope has continued to elevate his game as of late, after missing the first 10 games of the season due to an injury sustained during preseason. Pope scored 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field, while also grabbing three boards for the Pack. Over Nevada's past four games, Pope is averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while shooting an incredible 61.9 percent from the field.

Rolison matched his career-high by scoring 12 points in the victory over the Spartans. The freshman guard buried 2-3 shots from behind the arc and 6-8 shots at the free throw line. 

K.J. Hymes had another strong defensive performance against San Jose State, and the sixth-year senior currently ranks 13th in the Mountain West in blocks per game (1.0 BPG). Hymes has recorded at least one block in nine of the Pack's past 11 games.

Nationally, the Pack continues to boast one of the most prolific defensive units in the country. Nevada currently ranks first in the Mountain West and 49th in the nation in scoring defense (66.3 PPG), in addition to ranking second in the conference and 54th in the country in opponent field goal percentage (41.0%). 

Offensively, just as they have done all season, Nevada continues to be one of the premier teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball. The Pack is 11th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (9.4), 24th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.54), and 36th in the country in turnover margin (+3.1). Nevada has had 10 or fewer turnovers in 16 of 22 games this year, and the team is coming off a five-turnover performance against San Jose State. 

Nevada has done an exceptional job of maintaining leads this season, as they are a perfect 16-0 when leading at halftime, versus a mark of 1-5 when trailing at the half. 

Nevada's victory over San Jose State marked Head Coach Steve Alford's 674th career victory, and he will have the opportunity to reach the 675-win mark on the road on Tuesday.

The Pack has been fairly successful on the road this season, owning a record of 6-4 away from Lawlor Events Center, including a mark of 3-3 in true road games. Nevada will aim to earn their 18th overall victory and fourth true road win this Tuesday; however, a star-powered Utah State team that is 10-0 at home stands in the way of the Pack's aspirations.

Scouting Utah State

Utah State enters Tuesday's contest with an overall record of 19-3, and they are currently tied for first place in the Mountain West standings with a conference mark of 7-2.

The Aggies lost their most recent game, an 81-67 defeat at San Diego State. 

Utah State is led by first-year Head Coach Danny Sprinkle, the 2021-22 Big Sky Coach of the Year. 

The Aggies boast one of the premier offenses in the country, as they currently rank second in the Mountain West and 28th in the nation in scoring offense (81.8 PPG). Utah State also ranks second in the conference and eighth overall in the nation in field goal percentage, as they hold an exceptional clip of 49.9 percent shooting from the field this season. 

Utah State plays at an incredibly fast pace, and the Aggies have been tremendous at distributing the ball this season, as they rank second in the Mountain West and 17th in the country in assists per game (17.3 APG). 

Despite scoring at such a high level, the Aggies have struggled from behind the arc this season, as they rank 11th in the Mountain West in 3-point field goal percentage with a clip of 32.1 percent. 

Utah State has also been highly impressive on the defensive end of the court, as they rank first in the Mountain West in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (28.3%), fourth in scoring defense (69.0 PPG), and fourth in opponent field goal percentage (42.8%).

Individually, after not returning a single point of production from last season, the Aggies are led by one of the premier players in the country in Montana State transfer and Karl Malone Award finalist, Great Osobor. Osobor ranks second in the Mountain West in scoring (19..0 PPG), while leading the conference in rebounding this season (9.5 RPG). Osobor holds a sensational clip of 59.3 percent shooting from the field, good for seventh-best in the conference. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound junior has reached double figures in scoring in 20 of 22 games this season and has accumulated 10 double-doubles. 

Maryland transfer Ian Martinez has had a highly impressive senior season for the Aggies, and he ranks second on the team in scoring, pouring in 13.7 points per game. Martinez has shot the ball at a high level this season, as he leads Utah State and ranks seventh in the Mountain West in 3-point field goal percentage (42.5%). Martinez has eclipsed double figures in scoring in 15 of 22 games for Utah State, including scoring 15+ points eight separate times. 

6-foot-3, 203-pound guard Mason Falslev has had an exceptional freshman campaign thus far, as he is averaging 11.3 points per game on 58.0 percent shooting from the field, as well as 4.7 boards per contest. Falslev has been tremendous defensively, and he currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West in steals per game this season (1.6 SPG). 

Graduate Student guard and the 2023 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, Darius Brown, has been immaculate in his first season with the Aggies. Brown commands the Utah State offense and defense, and he ranks first on the team and seventh in the nation in assists per game (6.8 APG), while also ranking second on the team and fifth in the Mountain West in steals per game (1.6 SPG). Brown is also putting up 11.2 points per game on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc. 

Nevada will have to limit turnovers, prevent the Aggies from scoring in transition, and contain Osobor in order to leave Logan with a massive road victory on Tuesday night. 

Series History

Nevada and Utah State have faced off 66 times throughout history as Division I opponents, with the Aggies holding a 41-25 advantage in the all-time series. Utah State won the most recent matchup between the two squads, a 75-66 victory over the Pack in Logan last February. 

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