Nevada to face Boise State

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

Playing Boise State when your team is fresh is tough enough, but playing the Broncos when it's your fourth game in eight days is downright brutal.

That's what faces Nevada tonight when it invades Taco Bell Arena Thursday (6 p.m., KAME) in a big Western Athletic Conference game against Boise State.

The teams enter the game in a three-way tie for second place with New Mexico State at 8-3. All three teams are a half-game behind Utah State, which is 8-2. Overall, Boise State is 17-6 and Nevada is 16-8.

Nevada's legs are certainly weary from playing, and winning, three games in five days. One would think the Pack may have picked up some adrenaline and momentum from its win against Utah State Monday night which will enable it to get through the rest of the week.

"They (Boise State) are an excellent team," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "They are a veteran team with four seniors starting."

And, those four seniors made life miserable for the Wolf Pack earlier this year when the Broncos shot 59 percent from beyond the arc and 54 percent overall and hung a 95-80 defeat on the Pack. It was the worst home loss in Fox's tenure.

"We've always had good games here (at home)," Boise State coach Greg Graham said. "Fortunately we were able to get the first one down there."

Fox considers the Broncos one of the best offensive teams in the conference and a "tough guard."

It's a reputation that is well deserved. Boise State is No. 1 in the country in field goal percentage at 51.6, eighth in the country in scoring at 82.5 a game, eighth in assists with 18.3 a contest and 25th in 3-point shooting at 39.7 percent.

Boise State has a good mix of inside and outside scoring, and that's why the Broncos are so dangerous.

It starts on the inside with senior forward Reggie Larry (18.9 ppg) and senior center Matt Nelson (15.2). On the outside, the Broncos boast Tyler Tiedeman (14.5), who is third in the country in 3-point percentage at an amazing 51.2, Matt Bauscher (9.8) and Anthony Thomas (8.6). Bauscher and Thomas are also deadly from beyond the arc. Thomas and Tiedeman buried four 3-pointers in the first meeting between the teams.

In the first meeting, Nevada had a slim lead at the half, but gave up 53 second-half points.

"That second half was the best we've played all year," Graham said. "We're still playing pretty well.

"I think they (Nevada) are playing much better now. Their young guys are getting more and more experience. I think they are getting more comfortable. Preseason is one thing, but the conference steps up a whole lot; another level. It's more mental than anything."

Marcelus Kemp is coming off a career-best 35-point effort against Utah State, while JaVale McGee was dominant inside with 12 points and six blocked shots. Freshman point guard Armon Johnson broke out of a two-game shooting slump with 16 points.

Kemp essentially carried Nevada to victory on Monday, scoring 15 points in the final 6 1/2 minutes. The Pack will need him to step up big again offensively in these next two games.

And, Nevada will need continued strong play from its bench, led by David Ellis and Lyndale Burleson. Ellis went 4-for-5 from the floor against Utah State and Burleson had four assists, two steals and held Jaycee Carroll to five first-half points.

Notes: Nevada has won 24 of its last 36 road games, including 20 road wins and four neutral-site wins. Last year, Nevada was 14-4 away from home ... With two road games to end the week, Nevada will have traveled 27,714 air miles this season, third-most in the country ... Nevada has won three straight and six of its last seven entering tonight's game... Richie Phillips had successful surgery on his left leg, the same leg he previously suffered a stress fracture. The re-hab time for the injury is three-to-four months, accoring to Rhonda Lundin, team spokesperson.