Pack routes Rebels in most lopsided win in series history, stays in first place
It’s probably fair to say the 2016-17 Nevada squad is better than UNLV’s.
The Wolf Pack beat the Rebels by a then-record 27 two and a half weeks ago and re-upped that mark on Saturday in Las Vegas,
dismantling the Rebels 94-58.
With the rout, Nevada (23-6, 12-4) remained tied atop the Mountain West with Colorado State (20-9, 12-4) heading into the final week of the regular season. UNLV (10-19, 3-13) remained all alone in last place following its ninth straight loss.
Marcus Marshall returned to his sharpshooting form after down couple of weeks, hitting 8-of-10 shots from deep to finish with 28 points. He entered the game tied with Jimmy Carroll (1996-97) for the most three pointers made in a season. He now owns the record outright with 103.
The Missouri State transfer became just the third player in Mountain West history to make 100 three pointers in a season.
Jordan Caroline went off for 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting and pulled down 10 boards for his 11th double-double of the season. The 31 points were Caroline’s second-highest total of the season after scoring 45 in the most improbable comeback overtime win at New Mexico.
Caroline and Marshall alone outscored the Rebels, 59-58.
D.J. Fenner (11 points) was the only other Nevada player in double figures.
Nevada shot 50 percent from the field (36-of-72) while holding UNLV to 39 percent (24-of-61). Nevada also won the battle on the glass, 47-31, and now owns the best rebounding margin in the Mountain West (+3.4), just ahead of Colorado State (+3.2).
Cam Oliver had a quiet game by his standards, scoring nine points and pulling down three rebounds in just 23 minutes.
The Wolf Pack only turned the ball over four times and outscored the Rebels 20-2 off turnovers.
Nevada plays its final true road game of the season on Wednesday night at San Jose State (14-13, 7-9). Tip is 7 p.m.
Regardless of the outcome in that one (Nevada won the first meeting 80-55 at Lawlor in December), the Mountain West regular season title will be decided Saturday when Nevada hosts Colorado State in the regular-season finale.
It will the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
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