Nevada (23-12; 12-8 MW) vs. Liberty (26-7; 17-3 CUSA)
Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 6 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Lawlor Events Center
​TV/Stream: ESPN+ (PxP: Derek Jones; Analyst: John Williams) ​
Radio: 95.5 KNEV (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Nick Fazekas)
RENO, Nev. - After earning an 89-75 victory over Murray State on Wednesday evening, the Pack is set to host Liberty at Lawlor Events Center for the Second Round of the National Invitation Tournament on Saturday, March 21.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., and the Pack fans can watch the contest on ESPN+ with Derek Jones (play-by-play) and John Williams (analyst) on the call.
The radio broadcast can be heard on 95.5 KNEV in Reno and through the Varsity Network App, featuring John Ramey (play-by-play) and Nick Fazekas (play-by-play).
UP NEXT
With a win, Nevada will face either Auburn/Seattle U on either Tuesday or Wednesday, March 24-25, in the quarterfinals of the NIT.
LAST TIME OUT
Nevada advances to the Second Round of the National Invitational Tournament after winning against Murray State, 89-75, on Wednesday afternoon at Lawlor Events Center.
The Pack will now host the Second Round of the NIT at Lawlor Events Center against Liberty on Saturday, March 21, at 6 p.m.
As a team, the Pack shot 51 percent from the field, 33 percent from three, and 89 percent from the free-throw line.
Vaughn Weems led the Pack offense with 23 points while adding five rebounds. Weems was followed by 17 points and one rebound shy of a career high in rebounds with 8.
Elijah Price controlled the glass, leading the team with 13 rebounds, including 12 on the defensive end. The last time Nevada had a player with 10 or more defensive rebounds was against Southern Illinois on November 12, 2025, with Price being the last player to achieve this feat with 12.
On the defensive end, Price made his impact with three steals, while
Kaleb Lowery added two.
Nevada took care of the ball with just five turnovers while forcing 15 from the Racers, capitalizing in every key area, as they outscored Murray State in points off turnovers (24-5), points in the paint (44-28), second-chance points (12-9), and fast-break points (17-9).
SCOUTING LIBERTY
The Flames are coming off a 77-71 NIT First Round win against George Mason on Tuesday evening.
Josh Smith led the Flames with a season-high of 23 points along with nine rebounds. Brett Decker Jr. added 17 points, and Zander Carter scored a career high in points (10) and rebounds (6). Colin Porter also made his impact in the offense with 10 points.
Zach Cleveland added nine points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while JJ Harper had eight points, three assists, and three blocks.
PACK vs FLAMES FIRST MATCHUP
This will mark the first-ever meeting between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Liberty Flames.
Liberty finished 17-3 in Conference USA regular season, earning the outright regular season title in the league for a second year straight.
Zach Cleveland earned Conference USA Player of the Year, while head coach Ritchie McKay garnered CUSA Coach of the Year, along with four total All-CUSA performers and an All-Defensive team member.
Cleveland and Brett Decker Jr. represent the Flames on the All-CUSA first team. Kaden Metheny was selected to the All-CUSA third team, and Colin Porter gathered All-CUSA honorable mention. Finally, JJ Harper garnered inclusion on the CUSA All-Defensive team.
WEEMS ATTACK
Weems continues to be a weapon for the Nevada offense after three consecutive games with double-digit points.
The junior recorded 16 points against Grand Canyon on March 12, 17 against Utah State on March 13, and 23 against Murray State in the first round of the NIT.
The junior recorded back-to-back career-high performances, highlighted by a 20-point game against New Mexico followed by a 30-point game against UNLV.
Weems also recorded a career performance in field goals (10-for-13), free throws (8-for-12), and rebounds (9).
