LAS VEGAS - Facing a 10-point halftime deficit, the Nevada Men's Basketball team battled back over the final 20 minutes; however, they came up just short, as they fell to Colorado State in the Quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament by a final score of 85-78. 

Following the loss, Nevada fell to 26-7 overall this season. After the Quarterfinal round exit, The Pack will now await to see where they will land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

Nevada had a solid performance on the offensive end of the court, particularly in the second half, as the Pack shot 55.6 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes of play. Nevada completed the game with clips of 47.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from behind the arc, and 73.0 percent at the free throw line. 

Defensively, Nevada struggled to contain a high-powered Colorado State team. CSU managed to shoot 50.0 percent from the field for the game, including 35.0 percent from behind the arc. 

Kenan Blackshear had a highly impressive performance for the Pack, as he scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, in addition to dishing out six assists and pulling down four rebounds. 

Jarod Lucas scored a team-high 18 points, while burying two shots from behind the arc. Lucas also grabbed three rebounds and recorded one steal in the game. 

Nick Davidson was limited to just 25 minutes of action due to foul trouble; however, the redshirt sophomore managed to score nine points on 4-6 shooting from the field, while also pulling down six rebounds and recording two blocks. 

K.J. Hymes had a strong outing for the Pack, as he scored eight points on 2-4 shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down three rebounds and recording one block.

Tylan Pope was tremendous off the bench for Nevada, putting together one of his best performances of the season. Pope scored 10 points on 2-4 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line, while also grabbing six rebounds and tallying one block. 

Nevada trailed for the majority of the contest, leading for just two minutes and 30 seconds throughout the game. 

First Half

Nevada opened the scoring in the game, as Hymes won the jump ball for the Pack, drew a foul on a hook shot and knocked down one of two shots at the line. 

The Rams evened up the game with a lone free throw at the other end; but, Davidson buried an impressive left-handed hook shot over a defender, giving the Pack a 3-1 lead. 

After a defensive stop, Lucas drained a mid-range jumper, extending Nevada's lead up to 5-1. 

Colorado State responded with an 11-0 run, as they took a 12-5 advantage over the Pack. Nevada answered, reeling off a 7-0 run to even up the score at 12-12 just over nine minutes into the contest. 

The run began with a Lucas 3-pointer, followed by a pair of free throws from Hymes. Pope then pulled down a tough offensive rebound in traffic and was fouled on a shot attempt, and he knocked down both shots at the free throw line to tie up the contest.

The two squads went back and forth over the next five and a half minutes, and Nevada found themselves trailing 23-20 with 5:36 remaining until halftime.

Colorado State used an 18-6 run over the next five minutes and 34 seconds to build a 15-point lead over the Pack with 1:02 left in the first period. 

Nevada scored five consecutive points to end the half, as they entered the break trailing 43-33.

Second Half

Blackshear opened the scoring in the second period, burying a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit down to eight points. 

CSU scored on their next offensive possession, as they extended their advantage back up to 10 points. 

Shortly after, Blackshear found Tre Coleman open behind the arc and Coleman buried a 3-pointer, bringing the Pack within seven points of Colorado State, as Nevada trailed 45-38 with 19:10 on the clock. 

After a defensive stop, Blackshear drained a mid-range jumper to trim the deficit down to five points. Nevada then got within three points of CSU after Lucas hit a floater with 17:59 to go in the contest.

The Rams scored to push their lead back up to five points; but, Davidson finished a tough layup in the paint while being fouled, going on to make the free throw and convert the and-one opportunity, bringing the Pack within two points of CSU, as they trailed 47-45. 

Colorado State responded with a 12-0 run, as they took a 59-45 edge over Nevada with 13:18 remaining in the game. 

CSU maintained a double-digit lead over the Pack for the next 4:44 of game time. Nevada cut the deficit down to nine points after Coleman splashed a 3-pointer with 8:34 to go; but, the Rams pushed their edge back up to 11 points. 

Trailing 74-63 with 6:32, Nevada made another push to get back in the game, as they ripped off a 6-0 run, trimming Colorado State's lead down to just five points with 5:21 to go and forcing the Rams to take a timeout. 

CSU scored five straight points out of the timeout, as they took a 10-point edge over the Pack with 3:27 on the clock. 

Nevada continued to battle back; however, the deficit proved to be too much, as they went on to fall to the Rams by a final score of 85-78. 

Notable Stats

• Nevada recorded five blocks throughout the game. 

• The Pack pulled down 11 offensive rebounds. 

• After scoring 16 points in the contest, Kenan Blackshear surpassed 1,500 points for his career. 

• Tylan Pope matched a season-high by scoring 10 points, in addition to pulling down a season-high six rebounds. 

• Eight different players scored 5+ points for the Pack. 

• Nevada made 27 of their 37 free throw attempts for a clip of 73.0 percent.

Up Next

Nevada will await to see where they are selected in the NCAA Tournament this Sunday.

Follow The Pack 

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