Nevada Gets Past the Whistle Fest in 81-66 Win Over Boise State

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, I’m talking about conference play starting in college basketball. Nevada kicked off its Mountain West schedule hosting Boise State, and boy, did it deliver.

There were 47 total fouls in this one, so to say the refs had a whistle fest is an understatement. Both benches got chirpy over it and I can’t say I blame them, but it’s part of the game and the great teams find a way to overcome.

“I tell them I love it,” head coach Steve Alford said about the fouls. “I’m old school, I don’t care how the rules change, the foul line is still incredibly vital to winning.”

Scoring Summary

1st Half

Boise State 26 – Nevada 36

2nd Half

Boise State 40 – Nevada 45

Final: Boise State 66, Nevada 81

Offense

Nevada’s offense took over the scoring early on, scoring two points each in its first three possessions. Vaughn Weems started it off with a layup, followed by Kyle Lowery and Chuck Bailey knocking in midrange jumpers for a quick six points.

It continued to go back and forth early on, with the freshmen continuing to make their presence felt. Myles Walker hit Nevada’s first three-pointer of the game, which gave Nevada a 15-12 lead. Boise State’s defense played tight, leaving Nevada to consistently take it down to the final seconds of the shot clock.

Tayshawn Comer continued to do what he does best, sneaking his way through to find shots. He finished the first half with 11 points and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.

Nevada went on a run through the end of the first half with a highlight step-back three by Comer with under two minutes left. The Pack closed out the first half with a 10-point lead at 36-26. Nevada also shot 54 percent from the field in those first 20 minutes.

Nevada was quiet for the first three minutes of the second half until a three-pointer by Weems and a free throw by Comer pushed Nevada over 40 points.

The freshmen kept on pouring it down. Peyton White, who didn’t make a ton of noise in the first half, came off the bench in the second and made his presence felt. White drove into the paint for two, then followed it up with a three that he was fouled on, giving Nevada a 23-point lead over Boise State.

The momentum switch stemmed from some sloppy passing and foul trouble on Nevada’s side. Three quick turnovers by the Wolf Pack gave the Broncos plenty of hope.

Nevada was able to switch it back up, and it was enough for a technical foul to be called on Boise State’s head coach, Leon Rice. A few turnovers against Boise State allowed Nevada to wear down the clock and give them a commanding 81-66 win.

Comer was the lead scorer with 24 points, going 5-9 from the field and 13-14 from the free-throw line. Nevada shot 27-34 from the line and 56 percent from the field.

Defense

Boise State responded quickly with six points of its own to start the game, tying it 6-6 after four minutes of play. Broncos forward Andrew Meadow gave them their first lead of the game with a wide open three to make it a 9-8 game.

The Broncos faced a quick scoring drought lasting just under three minutes until guard Dylan Andrews hit a layup to bring it within three with under 10 minutes to go in the first half. Boise State would hit yet another drought right after, including on a drive where the Broncos collected three offensive boards in a row and couldn’t come out with points.

Boise State was held to 38 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep in the first half. Meadow led the half with 10 points on 4-5 shooting and ended the night with 16 points.

Nevada took advantage of early fouls and scoring off turnovers in the first half. Out of Boise State’s eight turnovers, Nevada turned them into 14 points, while the Pack only turned the ball over once in the first half.

“I thought defensively we would’ve made our efficiency if it wasn’t for the last three minutes,” Alford said. “We got them to the free throw line, and they were pressing, but we made big play after big play.”

Momentum switched midway through the second half and began to look all Boise State. The Broncos cut a 24-point deficit down to 14 at the seven-minute mark while Nevada failed to score a field goal in over four minutes.

Boise State shot 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from deep while turning the ball over 13 times.

What’s Next

Nevada will enjoy a break over Christmas and gear up to face Colorado State on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. PST. The Rams are 9-3 and coming off a brutal 100-58 loss to Utah State.