Nevada (25-6, 12-5) vs. UNLV (19-10, 12-5)
Friday, March 8 - 7:30 p.m. - Lawlor Events Center
TV: CBSSN (Rich Waltz // Dan Dickau)
Radio: KNEV 95.5 FM/The Varsity Network app (John Ramey // Len Stevens)
Live Stream: https://shorturl.at/oASY5
Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/gpxD9
RENO, Nev. - Winning six straight games and nine of their past 10 contests overall, the Nevada Men's Basketball team is set to host intrastate rival UNLV in a Saturday Night showdown, with a potential share of the regular season Mountain West Championship on the line.
Saturday night's contest is slated to tip off at 7:30 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, beginning with a pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip.
Saturday night's game is senior night for Nevada, as the Wolf Pack will honor seniors Kenan Blackshear, Hunter McIntosh, Jarod Lucas, and Daniel Foster prior to the game. It is also JaVale McGee Day, as legendary former Nevada Basketball player JaVale McGee is set to attend the game and be recognized as part of his induction into the Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame this past fall.
Nevada is coming off a dominant 76-66 victory at Boise State this past Tuesday night, and the Wolf Pack have been playing at an elite level since the beginning of February, as they have won nine of their past 10 games beginning with a victory over San Jose State on February 2.
UNLV has also been playing at a prolific level, as they have won five consecutive contests and 10 of their past 11 games overall, with the only loss being at the hands of the Pack in Las Vegas three weeks ago.
The Pack had an exceptional performance on the road against Boise State on Tuesday, as they shot 46.9 percent from the field, including a tremendous mark of 50.0 percent from behind the arc on their way to a 10-point victory over the Broncos.
Defensively, Nevada matched a season-high by recording 12 steals, and the Pack limited Boise State to just 66 points on 41.7 percent shooting from the field and a paltry clip of 26.1 percent from behind the arc.
Nevada's bench was outstanding in the contest, led by graduate student Hunter McIntosh, who had his best performance in a Nevada uniform. McIntosh came off the bench to score 26 points on 9-11 shooting from the field, including a perfect 6-6 from behind the arc. McIntosh's six made 3-pointers set a new program record for the most made 3-pointers in a game without a miss in Nevada Basketball history. In addition to the game-high 26 points, McIntosh also recorded a career-high four steals in just 24 minutes of action throughout the contest.
McIntosh has been playing at a sensational level for the Pack as of late. After reaching double figures in scoring just four times across Nevada's first 27 games of the season, McIntosh has scored 12+ points in each of the Pack's past four games. Over Nevada's previous four contests, McIntosh is averaging 17.5 points per game on an incredible 62.1 percent shooting from behind the arc (18-29). McIntosh has logged an average of 29.2 minutes per game during the stretch and has recorded just one turnover.
Jarod Lucas did not have his best shooting performance in the win over Boise State; however, the fifth year senior scored 19 points, while burying two 3-pointers and knocking down 9-10 shots at the free throw line. Lucas also dished out three assists, pulled down three rebounds, and recorded two steals in the contest.
Lucas has been playing the best basketball of his career as of late; and, over Nevada's current six-game win streak, he has taken his game to new heights. Over the Pack's impressive win streak, Lucas is averaging 20.0 points per game on 41.9 percent shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down 3.0 boards per contest.
One of the most elite scorers on the West Coast, Lucas continues to rank within the top-10 of the Mountain West in numerous offensive statistical categories. Entering Saturday night's contest, Lucas is currently second in the conference in scoring (17.5 PPG), second in free throw percentage (90.3%), third in made free throws (149), fourth in made 3-pointers (71), and eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9%). Lucas' numbers have continually improved throughout conference play. In 17 Mountain West games this season, he is averaging 17.3 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from behind the arc.
Lucas has also played particularly well at Lawlor Events Center this season. In the Pack's 16 home games this year, Lucas is averaging 18.4 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 44.2 percent from behind the arc, while making 5.1 free throws and 2.4 3-pointers per contest.
Lucas' back court mate and fellow fifth year senior, Kenan Blackshear, returned to the Wolf Pack lineup in the win over Boise State after missing Nevada's past two games with a minor injury. Blackshear scored 11 points, nine of which came in the second half, while also pulling down three rebounds and recording two steals.
Blackshear continues to rank as one of the most prolific all-around players in the Mountain West this season, as he is within the top-25 of the conference in a multitude of statistical categories. Blackshear is currently seventh in the conference in assists per game (4.7 APG), ninth in scoring (15.0 PPG), 10th in steals per game (1.4 SPG), 20th in rebounds per game (5.0 RPG), and 24th in field goal percentage (49.4%).
Blackshear has been vital to the Wolf Pack's success this season. In the 23 victories that he has suited up for, Blackshear is averaging 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, while shooting an outstanding 52.1 percent from the field. In Nevada's six defeats this season, Blackshear is averaging just 12.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 38.8 percent from the field.
Nick Davidson did not have his best performance in the victory over Boise State, as he scored six points and grabbed three boards; but, Davidson has still been playing at an elite level for the Pack since the commencing of Mountain West play. In 17 conference games, Davidson is averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from behind the arc, and 74.6 percent at the free throw line. Davidson has been playing particularly well over Nevada's past 10 games, as he has been critical to the Pack's current 9-1 stretch. Throughout Nevada's previous 10 games, Davidson is averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 60.2 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from behind the arc.
Senior forward Tre Coleman also did not have his best outing against Boise State; however, he managed to score four points, dish out three assists, and record one steal in the game. Coleman has been essential in Nevada's current six-game win streak, as he is averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from behind the arc throughout the stretch.
Coleman has played at a high level for Nevada since the commencing of Mountain West play, as he is averaging 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from behind the arc during conference play this season. During the non-conference portion of the schedule, Coleman was averaging just 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 20.6 percent from behind the arc.
As a team, Nevada continues to boast one of the best defensive units in the conference and in the country this season. The Pack currently ranks 42nd in the nation in scoring defense (66.5 PPG), 53rd in the country in opponent field goal percentage (41.6%), and 76th in the nation in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (31.8%).
Nevada's offense has continued to improve throughout the season, and the Pack is currently 43rd in the country in field goal percentage (47.4%), as well as tied for 46th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5%) and tied for 96th in the country in scoring offense (76.4 PPG).
Nevada's offense has reached new heights as of late; and, over their current six-game win streak, the Pack are shooting a sensational 44.2 percent from behind the arc. Nevada leads the entire conference in 3-point field goal percentage in conference play, as they are shooting 39.3 percent from behind the arc in Mountain West play.
The Pack has continued to rank as one of the most prolific teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball this season. Nevada is tied for 23rd in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.8), tied for 25th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.54), and 49th in the nation in turnover margin (+2.3).
The Pack have been sensational on their home court since the start of last season, as they own a record of 28-3 at Lawlor Events Center since the start of the 2022-23 season. This season, Nevada is 15-2 at home, with an average scoring margin of +15.8 points per game. Nevada has been particularly exceptional on the defensive end of the court in home contests, as they are limiting their opponents to just 62.9 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the arc at Lawlor Events Center this season. The Pack have held 16 of 17 opponents at home to less than 50 percent shooting from the field this season.
Nevada will face a difficult test on Saturday, as they host a UNLV team that is on a five-game win streak and has won 10 of their past 11 contests.
The two squads faced off three weeks ago, with the Pack earning a remarkable 69-66 comeback victory over the Rebels. Davidson was outstanding in the game for Nevada, as he scored 19 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Lucas also had an impressive performance, dropping 18 points on 4-10 shooting from behind the arc. Nevada outrebounded UNLV 41-20 in the first matchup between the two teams.
Nevada will aim to sweep the season series against their intrastate rivals and potentially earn a share of the regular season Mountain West Championship, as Utah State is currently one game ahead of the Pack; however, the Aggies play tomorrow night, and a loss would open the door for Nevada to tie USU in the final conference standings.
Scouting UNLV
UNLV enters Saturday night's showdown with an overall record of 19-10, including a mark of 12-5 in Mountain West play, as they are tied with Nevada in the conference standings. Since suffering a 32-point loss at the hands of Air Force on January 23, the Runnin' Rebels have won 10 of 11 games, the lone loss being a defeat to Nevada.
The Rebels have continually improved their defense throughout the season, and they enter Saturday night's contest as one of the best defensive teams in the Mountain West. UNLV is currently third in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (42.1%), fourth in scoring defense (67.4 PPG), and fourth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (31.4%).
Offensively, UNLV ranks seventh in the conference in scoring (73.6 PPG); however, they are fourth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage this season (46.2%).
The Rebels have played well away from home this season, as they own a record of 7-2 in true road contests; and, they have won five consecutive away games.
Individually, UNLV is led by freshman Dedan Thomas Jr. Thomas Jr. is averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting from the field, 37.0 percent from behind the arc, and 73.5 percent at the free throw line this season. Thomas Jr. also leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference in assists per game (5.3 APG), as he has proven to be an exceptional facilitator.
Kalib and Keylan Boone rank second and third on the team in scoring, respectively. Kalib Boone is averaging 11.8 points per game, in addition to pulling down 5.4 boards per contest and ranking first on the team and second in the Mountain West in blocks per game this season (1.8 BPG).
Keylan Boone is putting up 11.7 points per contest while shooting 32.2 percent from behind the arc, and he is second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 rebounds per game.
6-foot-6 senior Luis Rodriguez has been stellar in a multitude of different areas for UNLV. He ranks fourth on the team in scoring (11.2 PPG), while leading the team in rebounding (6.7 RPG) this season. Rodriguez has been a formidable defender for the Rebels, as he leads the team and ranks second in the Mountain West in steals per game this season (1.7 SPG).
Nevada will need to limit Thomas' production and control the glass in the contest if they hope to earn their seventh consecutive victory and potentially a share of the regular season Mountain West Championship.
Series History
Saturday will mark the 99th all-time meeting between Nevada and UNLV, with the Rebels owning a 64-34 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
