Some familiar faces visit Wolf Pack

Some familiar faces visit Wolf Pack

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - Former University of Nevada star Dennis Ikovlev, who started on the Pack's NCAA Tournament team last season, was on hand Monday to watch his former team for the first time.

Ikovlev is playing professional basketball for BC Odessa in the Ukraine, and his team finished seventh in the first half of the season.

"I'm doing well, a lot better lately," said the 6-foot-7 Ikovlev, who came back to Reno to spend Christmas with his family. "I was in a tough situation. I was the new guy on the team. I think the average age is something like 28. I was riding the bench for a while."

Ikovlev said that he averaged 17 points a game over the final three games of the half, and he's hoping that will help him continue to get playing time in the second half of the season.

Ikovlev, a small forward, is under a two-year contract with BC Odessa. He arrived in Reno on Dec. 23 and is leaving this morning to rejoin his team.

KEMP MOVES UP

Marcelus Kemp led the Pack with 19 points, which moved him past Ric Herrin into sixth place all-time on the points list with 1,528. Herrin scored 1,512 points. Next up for Kemp is Pete Padgett, who finished with 1,642.

TRENT IN THE HOUSE

Former Pack coach Trent Johnson slipped into a courtside seat in the second half of the game.

Johnson has the Stanford Cardinal ranked 22nd in the Associated Press Top 25.

Johnson's son, Terry, plays for Cal State Stanislaus. He didn't score, but pulled down four rebounds before fouling out after playing 21 minutes.

Johnson exchanged pleasantries with some of the Pack fans and the writers along press row. Johnson's Stanford squad opens Pac-10 play this weekend.

AROUND THE WAC

Five teams in the Western Athletic Conference have produced winning records thus far in non-conference games.

Utah State, which is on a five-game winning streak, leads the conference with a 10-5 record. Boise State, which upset BYU at home by three points, is next at 9-3, followed by Nevada (8-5), Fresno State (7-6) and San Jose State (6-5).

New Mexico State is 5-9 followed by Hawaii (3-8), Idaho (3-8) and Louisiana Tech (3-9).

FACTS & FIGURES

Mike Reed, Tony Padilla and Casey McClellan were the game officials ... Nevada won the previous meetings between the teams - 95-90 in 1993 and 102-67 in 1997 ... Nevada has won 30 of its last 32 games at Lawlor Events Center...The Wolf Pack turned in season highs for rebounding (57) and rebounding margin (57-26, plus 31) in the win)...Sophomore JaVale McGee turned in his team-leading third double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He also led the team in rebounding for the sixth consecutive game...Sophomore Richie Phillips made his first appearance of the season after missing the first 12 games with the stress fracture.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281