RENO -- With Terrance Green stealing all the highlights, everyone seem to forget about Jerry Petty. But the 5-foot-11 guard from Seattle scored a career high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting in Nevada's 82-64 win over Southern Methodist University.
Petty took this game personally after scoring only nine points in an overtime loss to the Mustangs last month in Dallas, a game in which the Wolf Pack held a double-digit lead in.
"We lost to them earlier in the season and we had a 10-point lead," said Petty, whose previous career high was 14 against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 16. "We all felt we should've won that game."
Petty's stole a pass with just over two minutes left in the game and his dunk on the other end gave him his career high. He then added a layup off Green assist on the following possession to give Nevada a 82-61 lead. Petty also set career highs in field goals made (8) and field goal attempts (11) in the 18-point win.
GREEN CHASING ANOTHER RECORD
Terrance Green's, who made six 3-pointers against the Mustangs, now needs only two more this season to become the career leader for 3-point field goals at Nevada. Green now has 184. Jerry Hogan holds the current record of 185.
IS OKESON OK?
Todd Okeson, who had been averaging 10.2 ppg, had only two points on 1-of-2 shooting against the Mustangs. One of the nation's top 3-point shooters, Okeson only took one trey against SMU. The two points, though, isn't a season low for the guard from Weskan, Kan. He scored zero in two games this season (vs. UNLV, vs. Seattle Pacific University).
ROSS SILENCED
SMU's Quinton Ross was the second leading scorer in the WAC coming into the game but he didn't look like it against Nevada. The 6-foot-6 guard, who was selected as the conference's best NBA prospect, finished with 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Ross also scored 17 in the overtime win over the Wolf Pack earlier this season, but is averaging 20.3 ppg this season. Hawai'i's Carl English leads the WAC in scoring (20.6).
BROWNE COMES UP BIG
Nevada forward Dean Browne had a big game against the Mustangs, finishing with a career high 14 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots. His previous career high was 12 points, which came against Tulsa University on Jan. 4.
SERIES UPDATE
Despite the loss, SMU still holds a 5-3 edge in the all time series with the Wolf Pack. Thursday night's win for Nevada was its first regular season win against the Mustangs, who won the first five regular season meetings between the two schools.
WAC OUTLOOK
Since Louisiana Tech beat Fresno State 80-77 on Thursday night in Fresno, Calif., the Wolf Pack is now only a 1/2 game out of first place in the WAC standings. Fresno State is still in first place at 10-3, Nevada is in second at 9-3 and Louisiana Tech is in third place at 8-5.