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by Chris Murray
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Whereas this season hasn't gone because the Nevada males's basketball group has anticipated, the Wolf Pack may cap the common season by making historical past.
Nevada (16-14, 8-11 Mountain West) ends the common season Saturday at San Diego State's Viejas Enviornment, which stays the one MW highway location the Wolf Pack has but to win a sport in since becoming a member of the league in 2012. Nevada is 0-12 since then at SDSU and solely has two extra alternatives to finish that skid with the Aztecs becoming a member of the Pac-12 after subsequent season. If you happen to embody MW Event video games, the Wolf Pack is 0-16 in opposition to SDSU exterior of Lawlor Occasions Heart since 2012.
Here’s a have a look at every of Nevada's video games at Viejas Enviornment since becoming a member of the MW in 2012. The Wolf Pack is 5-6 at house in opposition to SDSU, together with this yr's 69-50 loss on Jan. 25, which dropped Steve Alford to 2-10 in opposition to the Aztecs as Nevada's head coach.
Feb. 23, 2013 (SDSU 88, Nevada 75): The Wolf Pack was down 14 factors at halftime earlier than enjoying even within the second half due to a scoring binge from Malik Story, who had 33 factors on 12-of-22 capturing, together with 7-of-13 from three. SDSU coach Steve Fisher in contrast Story to Kobe Bryant after the sport, however not even he may sustain with the Aztecs, who shot 58.2 p.c, together with 10-of-22 from three, with six gamers notching double figures in Nevada's first MW go to to Viejas.
Feb. 8, 2014 (No. 5 SDSU 73, Nevada 58): Nevada went 10-8 in MW play this season however stood no probability in its one regular-season sport in opposition to SDSU, which was 16-2 in league. The Wolf Pack stored issues shut at halftime, trailing by simply six factors, earlier than an Aztecs run within the second half. Jerry Evans Jr. had 17, however the Wolf Pack protection wilted, permitting SDSU to shoot 52.1 p.c whereas going 20-of-26 from the free throw line. Xavier Thames had 17 factors on simply seven pictures.
March 7, 2015 (SDSU 67, Nevada 43): SDSU placed on a defensive clinic, and coach David Carter was advised after the sport he was being fired, which was the regular-season finale (the information didn't leak till Nevada misplaced to UNLV within the MW Event 4 days later). The Wolf Pack made simply 13 subject targets with 18 turnovers, capturing 29.5 p.c from the sector. The one Wolf Pack participant to succeed in double figures within the sport was Marqueze Coleman, who tallied 10 factors on 4-of-12 capturing.
Feb. 12, 2017 (SDSU 70, Nevada 56): Eric Musselman's first sport at Viejas Enviornment got here throughout his second season, and it went like earlier conferences with Nevada shedding by double-digits. The Wolf Pack was out-scored by 14 within the first half earlier than a good second half. D.J. Fenner had 21 factors on 8-of-16 capturing, however the remainder of the group made simply 14-of-51 pictures (27.4 p.c). SDSU put 4 gamers in double figures regardless of making solely 4-of-18 3-pointers.
March 3, 2018 (SDSU 79, No. 21 Nevada 74): The Pack's regular-season finale in its 2018 Candy 16 season was a loss at Viejas. Nevada was ranked No. 21 within the nation and was a 1.5-point favourite, one among two occasions it has been favored at Viejas. Trey Kell scored six factors within the last 1:19 after Nevada minimize the deficit to 72-70. Jordan Caroline had 29 factors and Caleb Martin 22 as Nevada shot 49.2 p.c. However SDSU tried 10 extra free throws than Nevada and was plus-seven on the glass.
Feb. 20, 2019 (SDSU 65, No. 6 Nevada 57): Ranked sixth within the nation at 24-1, the Wolf Pack was a 7.5-point favourite getting into the matchup. SDSU led 39-32 early within the second half earlier than occurring a 9-0 run to construct a 16-point lead. Nevada minimize that deficit to 5 factors late however couldn't reel within the Aztecs, who held Nevada to 33.9 p.c capturing. That was the start of the tip of that season with Nevada shedding 4 of its final 9 video games, together with twice to SDSU.
Jan. 18, 2020 (No. 7 SDSU 68, Nevada 55): This marked Alford's first journey to SDSU as Nevada's head coach, and it ended just like the earlier six video games at Viejas. The Wolf Pack led by two factors at halftime earlier than being outscored 35-20 after intermission as SDSU went on a 17-2 run after the sport was tied at 40. Nevada shot simply 28.1 p.c from the sector and made solely 6-of-29 two-pointers (20.7 p.c). Jalen Harris (19 factors) made seven of Nevada's 16 baskets.
Jan. 7, 2021 (SDSU 65, Nevada 60): This was the primary of two video games at Viejas Enviornment in three days because the MW performed two-game collection throughout the 2020-21 COVID yr. Each have been shut matchups. Within the first sport, Nevada led 60-58 with 2:16 left earlier than SDSU closed the sport on a 7-0 run due to a Jordan Schakel three and a pair of free throws every by Nathan Mensah and Matt Mitchell, who had a double-double with 20 factors and 10 rebounds.
Jan. 9, 2021 (SDSU 69, Nevada 67): Two days later, Nevada misplaced one other heartbreaker. This one was even nearer. The Wolf Pack trailed 60-51 with 5:28 remaining earlier than tying the sport at 62. Grant Sherfield hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining to knot issues at 67 earlier than Trey Pulliam banked within the game-winning runner because the buzzer sounded to beat the Wolf Pack but once more. These have been two of Nevada's greatest probabilities of profitable at Viejas Enviornment since becoming a member of the MW.
Feb. 6, 2022 (SDSU 65, Nevada 63): This marked Nevada's third straight close to upset at SDSU. The Wolf Pack got here into the sport driving a four-game skid and was a 14.5-point underdog. It was enjoying with out two injured starters (Sherfield, Warren Washington) however scrapped in opposition to SDSU and had a last-second shot to win the sport. However Will Baker stepped out of bounds with the ball in his palms with 1 second left making an attempt to get in place for a game-winning three, all however ending the sport.
Jan. 10, 2023 (SDSU 74, Nevada 65): After some slender losses at SDSU in the previous few seasons, the Wolf Pack was whacked on this one. The Aztecs opened on a 10-0 run and by no means trailed, constructing a lead as massive as 22 factors with 9:10 remaining. Nevada went on a late 12-0 run however was by no means aggressive within the contest after capturing 39.7 p.c to SDSU's 50 p.c, together with 8-of-21 from three (7-of-16 from three within the first half).
Jan. 17, 2024 (SDSU 71, Nevada 59): The Wolf Pack dug a 14-point halftime gap after lacking all 10 of its 3-pointers earlier than intermission whereas being held to 24 factors on the halftime break. The Wolf Pack erased that massive deficit by tying the sport at 48 and once more at 53. However Jaedon LeDee scored six straight factors after that 53-53 tie to provide the Aztecs a lead it could by no means relinquish. LeDee completed with 22 factors and 12 rebounds as SDSU beat the Wolf Pack on the glass by 19 (44-25).
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It hasn't been all dangerous information for Nevada at Viejas Enviornment. The Wolf Pack did win its first sport there in 1998, the yr after it opened. Then enjoying within the Large West, the Wolf Pack scored a 76-71 additional time victory at Viejas on Nov. 9, 1998, which marked the season opener for each groups. Nevada's John Burrell scored 14 of his 20 factors within the last quarter-hour of a sport that featured 27 lead adjustments and 10 ties. Derrick Anderson added 18 factors and Calvin Criddle had 11 for Nevada. Andre McLeod had a key three-point play in additional time to provide Nevada the lead for good, and Burrell scored on back-to-back possessions to provide Nevada a 73-65 lead with 1 minute remaining. SDSU was held to only one subject aim over a span of 10 minutes, 30 seconds that carried from the tip of the second half to additional time. SDSU's Matt Watts had a game-high 29 factors off the bench. Nevada completed that season 8-18 as Pat Foster was fired after the yr and changed by Trent Johnson; SDSU went 4-22 underneath Fred Trenkle, who additionally was fired after the season and changed by Fisher.
Nevada will search for its first win at Viejas in 9,616 days when it takes the court docket Saturday at SDSU. The Aztecs (20-8, 13-6) will not be having a banner yr with this being a must-win sport for them to remain on the correct aspect of the NCAA Event bubble. SDSU is 11-3 at house this season, matching the variety of losses at Viejas for the Aztecs within the earlier three years mixed when it 43-3 at house. These house losses have come to Gonzaga, Utah State and UNLV, which accomplished the season sweep of SDSU on Saturday when beating the Aztecs in Las Vegas.
Columnist Chris Murray gives perception on Northern Nevada sports activities. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or observe him on Twitter at @ByChrisMurray.