Shiloh strong on defense again

RENO - For the second straight game, Kyle Shiloh put the clamps on a much-heralded opponent.

Shiloh held Jaycee Carroll to seven points, 10 below his season average of 17.6 but it went for naught as Nevada dropped a 59-53 decision to Utah State Monday night at Lawlor Events Center.

In fact, Carroll had only three points until the final minute when he scored four points.

Shiloh scored in double figures for the fourth straight game, finishing with 14 points.

ADJUSTMENT TO LATE STARTS

Utah State coach Stew Morrill said that later starts are easier to deal with when you're on the road.

"You move it (the schedule) back," Morrill said. "I think it's a little simpler when you are the visiting team. You don't have to worry about guys having to get up for an 8 a.m. class. A lot of places we'd start at 10 p.m."

A later game allows the players to sleep later since they don't have to worry about class. Morrill also moves the pre-game meal and shootaround back as needed.

Nevada coach Mark Fox was glad that school was in session on Monday. Nevada held its shootaround between 4 and 5.

Fox said his players do better when they have a late-starting home game and go to class during the day.

FACTS & FIGURES

Prior to Monday's game, Nevada had compiled a 4-2 record against teams that reached the post-season last year, losing only to Saint Mary's College and UCLA ... Utah State was selected to finish second in the preseason media poll and tied with Hawai'i in the coaches poll for second place ... Nevada and Boise State each play three WAC games this week. Besides Utah State, Nevada visits Boise State Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and hosts Hawai'i Saturday at 7 p.m. Boise State played at Hawai'i Monday, hosts Nevada Thursday and visits Idaho Saturday afternoon... Utah State outscores opponents by a 19.2 margin at home, but only by a 1.4 margin on the road. Nevada outscores its opponents by 15.6 at home and 1.6 at home ... Nevada only garnered one point in the AP poll and four points in the USA Today/Coaches poll. Fans shouldn't take too much stock in that. Nevada entered the post-season unranked two years ago, and finished five points shy of a trip to the Elite 8.