FRESNO, Calif. - Kyle Shiloh isn't a secret anymore.
Shiloh, more known for his defensive abilities, scored a career-high 22 points on 8 for 12 from the floor, including 5 for 7 from beyond the 3-point line, in Nevada's 87-77 loss to Fresno State Wednesday night at the Save Mart Center.
It was Shiloh's third straight double-figure game. In that span, he's 19 for 29 from the floor, including an incredible 13 of 18 from beyond the arc.
"He's a much-improved shooter," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "I wasn't lying when I told you guys that. He's got confidence in himself now. I think he knew he could always do it, but now that he's strung a few together..."
Shiloh said he is the type of guy who doesn't worry about scoring.
"If I score 20, great," Shiloh said. "Whatever I have to do to help the team win. The last few games I've made a few."
Fox admitted that Shiloh has been more aggressive the last few games, and the coach has pointed out on numerous occasions that his junior guard always has the green light.
Shiloh made just a big contribution at the defensive end of the floor, too. He helped hold Ja'Vance Coleman to 11 points, seven below his season average. Coleman was only 3 for 9 from the floor.
"I didn't want him to get the ball," said Shiloh, who played on an AAU team with Coleman during his high school days. "I know what he's capable of. He's capable of scoring 30 if you don't guard him."
WHERE IS CHARLO?
Through the first nine games of the season, Mo Charlo was rock solid at the offensive end of the floor.
He was shooting well, passing well and making good decisions on the floor. The last eight games, he's been up and down, reminiscent of last year when it took most of the season to adjust to Division I basketball.
He's barely shooting 40 percent in the past nine games (Nevada is 6-3). The biggest difference has been his inability to get to the free throw line. He averaged 5.5 free throw attempts through the first nine games, and is averaging only 2.1 attempts the last eight games.
"He needs to get extra shots," Fox said. "He was playing great. He's got to get back and play at that level for us."
AIRBOUND
For the second time this season, Nevada chartered a plane to a game.
The school rented an eight-set plane and flew the active players and coaching staff down to Fresno. The rest of the traveling party, six people, made the trip on a chartered bus.
Fox said the team had always planned to fly to Fresno, and the inclement weather had nothing to do with the decision.
O'NEIL OUT 2 GAMES
Sophomore guard Dwight O'Neil, who has started all of Fresno State games to date, missed the game against Nevada Wednesday night and won't accompany the squad to Hawai'i over the weekend.
O'Neil took an incomplete in one of his fall semester classes, and will have two weeks to make up his work.
"All of our players must learn and understand the seriousness of our academic mission at Fresno State," Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said in a press release.
"Unfortunately, it will cost our team in two critical games this week. However, we will not waver in our commitment to a culture of compliance and our young men, through these lessons, will learn that their academic progress, participation and standing come before basketball."
FACTS & FIGURES
Demarshay Johnson's 12-point effort surpassed the 11 he scored earlier this year against UC Davis ... Chad Bell continues to struggle, and his playing time is shrinking. He's played just 21 minutes total in the last two games, contributing two points and three rebounds ... Ramon Sessions went scoreless, going 0 for 4 from the floor. He did dish out six assists. He also went scoreless against Hawai'i ... Nevada hosts Utah State in a Big Monday ESPN game at 9:05 p.m. ... Fox said the team will take today off and get back to work on Friday.