Akron coach gives Nevada its due

RENO - Just how good is this Nevada basketball squad?

Reporters questioned Akron coach Keith Dambrot after the game, and the Zips' head coach, who was LeBron James' high school coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary, gave the Pack their due.

"What they do best is play to their strengths," Dambrot said after the 88-61 loss to Nevada in the eBay Bracket Buster Friday night at Lawlor Events Center. "They run their system very well.

"It's simple stuff. It's hard to cover (for us) because they are so physical inside. They can play inside and out."

Dambrot's squad has played Mississippi State (win), California (loss) and Clemson (loss). He compared Nevada favorably with those teams, but stopped short of saying they were better.

"Their guards (Cal's) are probably more skilled (than Nevada's), but not as tough," he said.

Dambrot said Nevada could be a Top 25 team if it gets the guard play the Pack got Friday night.

GOOD REVIEW FOR FAZEKAS

Dambrot gave Fazekas a favorable review, not that the 6-11 junior forward needs one.

"He's going to be a pro," Dambrot said. "He's better in person than on film."

Dambrot said Fazekas' success at the next level will hinge how much physically stronger he can get.

"In the next league, you have to bed a little bit stronger," Dambrot said.

A DIME SESSION

Ramon Sessions had six points in the first 18 minutes, and you had a feeling that he was due for another big assist game.

Sessions doesn't think he's ever had 13 assists in a game, even in high school.

"I wouldn't say I was surprised," he said. "They (teammates) were hitting their shots tonight."

CHARLO IS BACK

Senior forward Mo Charlo drained 5 of 8 field goal attempts en route to a 14-point game, his best in a few weeks. He also pulled down four rebounds.

Charlo scored 11 in the second New Mexico State game, and had seven points against Louisiana Tech.

"Mo has played well," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "He's starting to play again at the level he did earlier in the season."

If Charlo gets all the way back, Nevada will be a dangerous team the rest of the way.

STUDENTS WILL BE STUDENTS

School and Lawlor Event Center officials confiscated prior to the game to what amounted to be 2/3 of a case of beer that students in the rooting section tried to sneak in. The students put the beer in soft drink cans.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Zips have a 1-4 record against WAC schools, having posted a 1-1 record against Boise State, 0-1 against Nevada and an 0-2 record against Louisiana Tech ... During the current seven-game winning streak, Nevada is averaging 76 points a game, up from its 71.7 season mark. In this seven-game stretch, five players are averaging 8 points or better - Fazekas 23.2, Marcelus Kemp 14.1, Shiloh 10.1, Demarshay Johnson 8.0 and Charlo 9.0 ... Nevada was abysmal from the 3-point line in the last two games, shooting 5-for-28.