FRESNO, Calif. - Nevada defeated Fresno State 77-66 in an intense overtime matchup at the Save Mart Center. Nick Davidson led Nevada with 20 points, complemented by Kobe Sanders' 15-point performance. For Fresno State, David Douglas Jr. scored a team-high 16 points, with Zaon Collins adding 13. Nevada's strong second-half play and dominance in overtime ultimately secured the victory. Nevada Goes on the Road to play Fresno State. 

First Half
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with Fresno State surging to a 12-point lead early, powered by efficient free-throw shooting (13 of 16, 81.3%) and timely baskets from their starting lineup. Nevada struggled with their outside shooting, hitting only 2 of 12 from three-point range, but stayed in the game with aggressive play in the paint and strong rebounding.

Nick Davidson and Kobe Sanders spearheaded Nevada's offense, combining for key baskets that chipped away at Fresno State's lead. Fresno State's ability to convert Nevada turnovers into points kept them ahead for much of the half. A late push by Nevada narrowed the gap, leaving Fresno State with a slim 31-30 lead heading into halftime.

Second Half
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Nevada adjusted defensively and began dominating the interior. Despite Fresno State shooting an impressive 50% from beyond the arc in the half, Nevada responded with a balanced attack that featured 22 points in the paint.

Nick Davidson continued to shine, contributing crucial baskets and grabbing offensive rebounds that provided Nevada with second-chance opportunities. Fresno State struggled with turnovers, which Nevada converted into critical points during a 10-0 scoring run midway through the half. The game remained tight, with both teams trading leads seven times, and the score tied five times. In a thrilling final sequence, Alex Crawford of Fresno State hit a clutch buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game at 64-64 and send it into overtime.

Overtime
In the extra period, Nevada took control, outscoring Fresno State 13-2. Tre Coleman and Nick Davidson hit clutch shots, while Nevada's defense stifled Fresno State, limiting them to just one field goal. Nevada also made all four of their free-throws attempts in overtime, sealing a hard-fought victory. The team's resilience in the paint and their ability to capitalize on mistakes proved decisive as they pulled away for the 77-66 win.

Notable Stats:

Nevada dominated the glass tonight, outrebounding the Bulldogs 53-34
Nevada won the battle in second-chance points 23-10.
Nevada won the battle from the bench, scoring 29 to Fresno State's 22
Nevada took better care of the ball, committing only 14 turnovers compared to Fresno State's 16.

Up Next:
Nevada will return home to play Air Force on January 14th, 2025, in Lawlor Events Center. Fans in Northern Nevada can listen to all Nevada men's basketball games on terrestrial radio at 95.5 FM KNEV with John Ramey and Len Stevens. Additionally, all games are available online through the Varsity Network app and are accessible from any location with internet access.

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