Johnson is WAC Player of the Week

RENO - Demarshay Johnson may have turned the proverbial corner with two outstanding performances in a span of five days against New Mexico State.

Johnson scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds in a 90-81 win at Las Cruces on Feb. 6, and he followed that up with a career-high 22-point, seven-rebound effort on Feb. 9 at Lawlor Events Center.

The latter effort earned him Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors, a first for the slender 6-9 transfer from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif.

"Demarshay played well," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "He's starting to play with confidence. He is starting to feel comfortable with what we want him to do."

Nevada did a good job of getting Johnson involved right away, according to Glynn Cyprien, New Mexico State assistant.

"They did a good job at the start of the game," Cyprien said. "The first four possessions they went right in and pounded that ball (into him). They threw over the top. We didn't do a good job (defending)."

Cyprien also said that the Aggies didn't match up size-wise, especially with Johnson and Nick Fazekas in the game at the same time.

VOTES IN THE POLLS

For the second straight week, Nevada received votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN polls.

Nevada collected 41 points and was just three spots outside the Top 25. Interestingly enough, Kansas, a team that lost to Nevada in Lawrence back in early December is in the top 25 at No. 22. Cal is 26th with 67 points and Northern Iowa was next at 61 and then Nevada.

In the ESPN poll, Nevada is ranked 34th with 9 polnts.

THE FAZEKAS WATCH

If you don't think there is any interest in Nick Fazekas, think again. A total of 16 scouts, representing 12 different teams, were in attendance on Monday night.

The Pacers sent three scouts, including George Felton and Kevin Mackey, former Cleveland State coach.

Mackey last week told Nevada reporters that Fazekas was a rock-solid first-round pick.

The Sacramento Kings sent two scouts, including longtime NBA veteran Scotty Stirling. Another longtime NBA veteran in attendance was Bob Ferry.

UP NEXT

The Pack will host Mid-American Eastern Conference leader Akron (18-5, 11-2) Friday night at 6 p.m. in the third annual eBay BracketBuster.

Akron holds a half-game lead over Kent State for first place. The Zips have won 13 of their last 15 games. The Zips are led by Romeo Travis, who is averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

After the Zips, the Pack play Idaho next Monday at 1 p.m. and Saturday against Utah State.