No. 23 Nevada (26-6, 13-5) vs. Colorado State (23-9, 10-8)

Thursday, March 14 - 6 p.m. - Thomas & Mack Center

TV: CBSSN (Rich Waltz // Dan Dickau // Evan Washburn)

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

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

Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/cDGQ6

RENO, Nev. - Winners of seven consecutive games and 10 of their past 11 contests dating back to the beginning of February, the Nevada Men's Basketball team is set to open the 2024 Mountain West Tournament Thursday evening, as they will face the No. 7 seed Colorado State in the Quarterfinal Round.

Thursday night's contest is slated to tip off at 6 p.m. and will be available for viewing on CBS Sports Network. 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. 

The Pack enters postseason play after one of the most successful regular seasons in program history. Nevada concluded the regular season with a 10-point victory over UNLV, bringing the Pack's overall record to 26-6 this season. Nevada earned the No. 2 seed in the Mountain West Tournament after compiling a conference record of 13-5, and they will face Colorado State after the Rams defeated San Jose State in the first round of the Conference Tournament on Wednesday. 

Nevada's 26 victories throughout the regular season marked the Pack's third-highest regular season win total in program history. 

Nevada was exceptional both at home and on the road, as they compiled a mark of 15-2 at Lawlor Events Center, while accumulating a mark of 8-3 in true road games, as they tied Utah State for the most road victories of any team in the Mountain West this season. 

Nevada was also highly successful in neutral site contests, putting together a record of 3-1 in road games throughout the season. 

After dropping four of five contests in mid-late January, Nevada has played at a sensational level, as they concluded the regular season by winning 10 of their final 11 games, with the lone loss being a one-point defeat to New Mexico. 

Nevada reeled off seven consecutive victories to close out the season after the one-point loss to the Lobos, with four of those wins coming on the road. Offensively, the Pack have been playing at a highly-prolific level during their current seven-game win streak. 

Throughout Nevada's past seven games, the Pack is shooting 48.5 percent from the field, including an exceptional mark of 43.5 percent from behind the arc, while burying 9.6 3-pointers per contest. Nevada is also averaging 16.7 assists per game and the Pack is shooting 76.5 percent at the free throw line. 

Defensively, Nevada has also been playing at an elite level over their current seven-game win streak. The Pack is limiting their past seven opponents to 65.4 points per game on just 41.9 percent shooting from the field, including a paltry mark of 29.8 percent from behind the arc. 

Nevada is coming off an impressive 75-65 victory over intrastate rival UNLV, as the Pack swept  the season series over the Rebels. Nevada recorded 18 assists on 24 made field goals, and the Pack shot 52.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc. Nevada limited UNLV to just 39.0 percent shooting from the field, including a clip of 29.2 percent from behind the arc. 

Jarod Lucas was outstanding in the win for the Pack, as he dropped a game-high 26 points on 8-16 shooting from the field, 4-9 from behind the arc, and 6-7 at the free throw line. Lucas also pulled down three rebounds in the contest. 

Lucas, one of the most prolific scorers on the entire West Coast, has had a tremendous final collegiate season for Nevada, and he continues to rank within the top-10 of the Mountain West in a multitude of offensive statistical categories. Lucas is currently second in the conference in scoring (17.8 PPG), second in free throw percentage (90.1%), second in made free throws (155), third in made 3-pointers (75), and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (40.1%). Lucas was recognized as a member of the All-Mountain West Second Team by the Coaches Poll Tuesday, in addition to being named All-Mountain West First Team by the conference's media on Monday. 

Lucas has been particularly exceptional during Nevada's seven-game win streak, as he is averaging 20.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc and burying 3.1 3-pointers per contest throughout the Pack's past seven games. Lucas has scored 18+ points and knocked down two or more 3-pointers in each of Nevada's past seven contests. 

Lucas has been tremendous in Nevada's two victories over Colorado State this season. In the Pack's 77-64 home victory over the Rams in late January, Lucas scored a game-high 28 points, marking his highest single game scoring output during conference play. In Nevada's 77-74 road victory over Colorado State, Lucas scored a team-high 23 points, including the game-winning shot as time expired from beyond half court.

In his second game returning to the Wolf Pack lineup after missing two consecutive games due to a minor injury, Kenan Blackshear was outstanding in the Pack's win over UNLV. Blackshear scored 16 points on 5-10 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line, in addition to dishing out a game-high nine assists and pulling down three rebounds. Blackshear's nine assists matched his second-highest single game assist total of the season. 

Blackshear continues to rank as one of the premier guards in the Mountain West, and he is within the top-25 of the conference in numerous individual statistical categories. Blackshear is currently seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.8 APG), 10th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 10th in scoring (15.1 PPG), 21st in rebounds per game (4.9 RPG), and 24th in field goal percentage (49.4%). Blackshear garnered Second Team All-Mountain West honors from both the Coaches Poll and the conference's media earlier this week for his stellar play throughout the season. 

Blackshear has played at a high level in neutral contests for the Pack this season. In four neutral site games, the fifth-year senior has averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. He had one of his best performances of the season in a neutral site victory over Georgia Tech earlier this season, as he scored 30 points, pulled down five rebounds, and dished out three assists. 

Nick Davidson recorded his seventh double-double of the season, including his sixth in Mountain West play in the Pack's victory over UNLV this past Saturday. Davidson scored 11 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and dished out three assists in the victory over the Rebels. Davidson has taken his play to new heights since the beginning of February, as he has been instrumental in helping the Pack win 10 of their final 11 games. In Nevada's past 11 games, Davidson is averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from behind the arc, and 74.4 percent at the free throw line. Davidson earned Third Team All-Mountain West honors from the Coaches Poll and from the conference's media poll.

Senior forward Tre Coleman had an impressive all-around performance in Nevada's victory over UNLV, as he scored seven points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out two assists, and recorded two blocks. Coleman, one of the elite defenders in the country, garnered All-Mountain West Defensive Team honors for the second consecutive season from the Mountain West Coaches poll earlier this week. 

Coleman has been an instrumental part of Nevada's success this season, particularly in conference play. Since the commencement of Mountain West play, Coleman is averaging 9.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from behind the arc. 

Nevada received a tremendous boost off the bench in the victory over UNLV, particularly from Daniel Foster and Tyler Rolison. Foster scored six points, grabbed four rebounds, and recorded two steals, while Rolison scored seven points on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field. 

Foster, an elite defender, has been playing at a high level for the Pack throughout the season, especially during Nevada's recent win streak. Over the Pack's past seven games, Foster is averaging 5.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 60 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from behind the arc, and 80 percent at the free throw line. Foster had one of his best performances of the season in Nevada's road victory over Colorado State, as he scored 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, including 2-3 from behind the arc, while also pulling down three rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording two steals. 

As a team, Nevada continues to rank as one of the premier defensive squads in the country this season. Nevada is currently 37th in the nation in scoring defense (66.5 PPG), 46th in the nation in opponent field goal percentage (41.5%), and 70th in the country in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (31.7%). 

The Pack's offense has continued to improve throughout the season, and Nevada currently ranks 42nd in the country in field goal percentage (47.5%) and 45th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.6%). 

Nevada continues to rank as one of the most prolific teams in the country at taking care of the ball, as the team is 27th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.8) and 22nd in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.55).

Nevada won both matchups against Colorado State in the regular season. During the first contest between the two squads, Nevada was sensational on the defensive end of the court, limiting CSU to just 64 points on 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 26.1 percent from behind the arc. Offensively, Lucas and Blackshear combined to score 48 points on 19-26 shooting, and Nevada knocked down 15-18 shots at the free throw line to earn a 77-64 victory over the Rams. 

In the second contest, Lucas and Coleman combined to score 39 points, and Nevada shot 47.6 percent from behind the arc (10-21), while limiting Colorado State to just 33.3 percent shooting from behind the arc (6-18). The Pack led for almost the entire contest, and after CSU tied the game up 74 points apiece with 2.5 seconds remaining, Lucas received an inbound pass, took two dribbles, and hoisted up a shot from beyond half court that went off the glass and dropped through the net as time expired, propelling  the Pack to a three-point victory. 

Nevada will aim to remain perfect against the Rams this season on Thursday night and earn a spot in the Semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament. 

Scouting Colorado State

Colorado State enters Thursday night's matchup with an overall record of 23-9. The Rams defeated San Jose State 72-62 in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament, and CSU enters Thursday evening's contest on a three-game win streak. 

Colorado State is led by All-Mountain West First Team honoree, and the only player throughout history to earn All-MW honors five separate times, Isaiah Stevens. 

The Rams have been one of the best offensive teams in the conference this season, as they rank first in the Mountain West in assists per game (18.6 APG), second in field goal percentage (49.4%), third in scoring offense (76.6 PPG), and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (34.5%). 

Stevens has been incredible for CSU this season, as he ranks first in the Mountain West and sixth in the nation in assists per game (7.0 APG). Stevens is also fifth in the conference in scoring, as he is averaging 16.7 points per game, while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 45.8 percent from behind the arc, and 83.7 percent at the free throw line. Stevens has scored in double figures in all but two games this season for Colorado State, with one of those contests coming against Nevada, as the Pack limited him to just eight points on 4-16 shooting from the field in the first matchup of the season between the two squads.

Stevens is joined in the back court by Third Team All-Mountain West honoree, Nique Clifford. Clifford, a 6-foot-6 senior guard, leads the team in rebounding (7.4 RPG), in addition to ranking third on the team in scoring (12.3 PPG). Clifford is shooting 53.2 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from behind the arc, and 77.8 percent at the free throw line. Clifford has also proved to be a formidable defender, as he is averaging 1.5 steals per game. 

Senior Joel Scott has had an impressive season for the Rams, as he ranks second on the team in scoring (12.7 PPG) and second in rebounds per game (5.9 RPG). Scott is shooting an exceptional 56.7 percent from the field this season. 

Colorado State has been outstanding in transition this season, as they rank 52nd in the country in fastbreak points per game (12.7 PPG). 

Nevada will need to limit Colorado State in transition, keep Stevens in check, and protect the 3-point line in order to defeat the Rams. 

Series History

Nevada and Colorado State have faced off 27 times throughout history, with the Pack owning a 16-11 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