Nevada goes quick in win against San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Nevada showed a new-look starting lineup against San Jose State in an effort to combat the Spartans' edge in quickness.

The Pack started Marcelus Kemp in place of center Chad Bell, who was limited to only five minutes of action, his lowest of the season.

"I felt we had to play the quickest lineup we could play," Nevada coach Mark Fox said after Saturday's 63-56 win at The Event Center. "I wanted to play as quick as we could play the entire 40 minutes. I told Chad he would get limited minutes."

David Ellis saw limited time, too, getting just three minutes.

The five minutes was obviously a season low for Bell, who didn't attempt a shot or get a rebound. He did block one shot.

Kemp, who has mostly been coming off the bench, finished with 10 points on 4 for 11 shooting, including two 3-pointers.

In the new lineup, Mo Charlo moved to power forward, and the 6-7 senior didn't mind the switch.

"I'll do whatever it takes to help the team win," Charlo said.

IS CHARLO BACK

After a four-game stretch that saw him shoot only 37 percent, including a four-point effort against Hawai'i, Nevada hopes Charlo has turned the corner.

Charlo, who was 12 for his last 32, went 6 for 13 from the field en route to a 13-point effort. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and the fourth of his career.

"He had played at a high level to start the season," Fox said. "He just had a little dip. I felt he would break out of it."

Charlo was much more aggressive and worked hard to get to the rim as his six offensive rebounds would indicate.

"I struggled a little against Hawai'i," Charlo said. "The coaches told me to stay aggressive and forget about it (Hawai'i).

"I've been up and down. There were some other issues (personal) that I let affect me."

BROWN SITS OUT

Demetrius Brown, San Jose State's leading scorer at 14.2 a game, sat out Saturday's game after suffering a thigh bruise against Utah State Thursday night.

George Nessman, SJSU coach, said that Brown tried to see if he could play during the shootaround but just couldn't do it.

"If he can't go, he can't go," Nessman said. "If it's the muscle, you take a chance of re-aggravating it if that's what it is."

It's the fifth time that the Spartans have played without Brown.

With Brown out, the Spartans really needed a big game from Alex Elam, but didn't get it. Elam went 3 for 15 from the floor and finished with only eight points.

"Elam struggles in this game," Nessman said. "Al doesn't often go 0 for 5 on 3s. He got some good looks. A couple of times he pulled up too soon, and their (Nevada's) length really bothered him."

FACTS & FIGURES

SJSU's Carlton Spencer scored a season-high 15 points, knocking down 7 of 11 field-goal attempts ... Nevada's guards struggled from the field, going a combined 3 for 11 and scoring just nine points. Ramon Sessions is still struggling a bit from the field. He went 1 for 6, but played a nice floor game with seven assists ... There were only two ties and two lead changes in the game ... Nevada had a 39-34 edge on the boards, including a 13-11 edge at the offensive end, and has outrebounded its opponents nine times ... Nevada is 10-1 when leading at halftime and is 5-0 when holding opponents to under 60 points ... Nevada is 8-2 in games decided by 10 or less points ... Nevada is 5-2 on the road, and has won 14 of its last 16 road games dating back to the start of the 2005 conference season.