Jan. 9, 2013

Final Stats

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.  - Playing for the first time in the Mountain West the University of Nevada (9-6, 0-1 MW) lost 78-65 at Air Force (8-4, 1-0 MW).  The Wolf Pack led 33-30 at halftime but was outscored 48-32 in the second half.

Trailing by 12 points with just under 12 minutes in the game the Pack closed the gap to four, 56-52 with 9:55 to play.  AF scored the next six points at the free throw line as part of a 20-4 run and led by 20 with 2:46 on the clock.  The Falcons went on to win by 13 points.

Deonte Burton scored a team-high 21 points for the Wolf Pack while Devonte Elliott had 12 points off the bench. Making his first start in eight games Jerry Evans, Jr. led Nevada with eight rebounds which tied for game-high honors.  

Malik Story entered the game as Nevada’s top scorer but was held to three after battling foul trouble.  The three points is his lowest total in 82 career games dating back to the second game of his sophomore season against Pacific.

Mike Fitzgerald had a career-high 30 points for the Falcons and grabbed eight rebounds.  Fitzgerald made nine-of-10 field goals including four-of-five from behind the arc and all eight free throw attempts.  Todd Fletcher contributed 18 points and Taylor Broekhuis added 10 for Air Force.

Nevada shot 43 percent from the field and 79 percent at the line.  The Falcons shot 56 percent in the second half and 52 for the game.  AF made seven-of-nine three-pointers in the second half and 10-of-17 for the game.  The Pack outrebounded the Falcons 28-27.

Nevada hosts #25 Wyoming (13-1, 0-1 MW) on Saturday at 3 p.m.  The Cowboys lost for the first time tonight falling 63-61 to Boise State at home.

2012-13
University of Nevada Men's Basketball
Postgame Notes

Nevada is 9-6, 0-1 MW after falling 78-65 at Air Force (8-4, 1-0 MW) tonight.  It was the Mountain West opener for both schools.

It was the first MW game for Nevada after 12 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Pack is now 0-5 in when playing its first game in its last five conference switches.

Nevada is 1-5 on the road.

For the ninth time this season Deonte Burton led the Pack in scoring finishing with 21 points.

Devonte Elliott was the only other Nevada player in double figures finishing with 12 off the bench.  It was his fifth double figure scoring game of the season and one off his career high.

After winning a season-high five in a row the Pack has lost its last two.

Senior Malik Story entered the game as Nevada's leading scorer but totaled just three points against the Falcons.  The three points tied his career low that came against Pacific on Nov. 15, 2010 in the preseason NIT.  It was the second game of his Nevada career.

For the third time this season Jerry Evans, Jr. led the Pack in rebounding grabbing eight tonight to tie for game-high honors.

Evans returned to the starting lineup for Cole Huff.  Evans started the first seven games of the season and 56 in a row until being replaced on Dec. 4 at Pacific.

Fourth-year head coach David Carter is 71-45 at Nevada.  Carter is 2-2 in conference openers.

Deonte Burton and Mali Story made their 82nd career starts tonight.  

Story ranks 17th in school history with 1,196 points and Burton is 18th with 1,195.

Nevada hosts #25 Wyoming (13-1, 0-1 MW) on Saturday at 3 p.m.  The 25th ranked Cowboys lost for the first time this season falling 63-61 to Boise State at home tonight.

Nevada Wolf Pack Men's Basketball

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