Nevada to face Idaho

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

A banged up Nevada basketball team arrived in Moscow, Idaho today for the final game in a 5-game, 10-day stretch.

In most respects, it's been a successful stretch, as Nevada has won three of the four game. However, the final game against Idaho (Saturday, 7 p.m.) has suddenly become much tougher than originally thought because of four injuries suffered in Thursday's 77-68 loss to Boise State.

Demarshay Johnson turned his ankle three minutes into Thursday's game, but did return to play 11 more minutes. Matt LaGrone hurt his lower back when he took a nasty spill in the second half, and Lyndale Burleson twisted an ankle late in the second half. David Ellis also suffered an unspecified injury.

Reached at the Spokane Airport Friday morning, Fox said he didn't know the severity of any of the four injuries.

"We'll tape them up and play the best we can," Fox said.

If Nevada can win today, it would be 4-1 over the difficult stretch.

"It's been a challenge," Fox said. "We'll judge it when it's over. If we're fortunate to be 4-1 at the end of this (stretch) that beats the alternative."

Fox is worried that fatigue has caught or is catching up to his team. And, if any of the above injuries keep players out of the game, that could lead to further problems.

Nevada's bench - David Ellis, Malik Cooke, Ray Kraemer, Matt LaGrone and Lyndale Burleson - has played well lately. That group may be in for its stiffest test yet tonight.

Ellis, a senior, has scored 16 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in the past four games, while Burleson, a junior, has 19 points, five rebounds and 19 assists. Cooke, a freshman, has scored 12 points and pulled down 20 rebounds, and LaGrone, a sophomore, has scored four points and pulled in 14 rebounds.

"Our bench has really matured," Fox said. "It gave us a chance last night (Thursday) against Boise State because the starting five didn't play well. They (the bench) have progressed throughout the year. Oh sure it takes time to gain confidence with your role."

Cooke has especially been impressive. He went 3-for-3 from the floor and pulled down five rebounds (four offensive) in 13 minutes. He has 20 offensive rebounds this season, and has shown a propensity for getting to the glass at the offensive end.

"Malik has great instincts for rebounding," Fox said. "That's one of the reasons why we recruited him. He's the same as Jermaine (Washington, ex-Pack player) going to the glass.

"Malik has made progress. He's gotten better each week."

Cooke may not have the hops that Washington had, but his desire is evident, and that's what makes a good offensive rebounder.

Kraemer has been solid shooting from long distance, going 8-for-10 from beyond the 3-point arc in the last five games.

Burleson gives the Pack a little bit of everything off the bench. He is shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc and has 40 assists compared to just 16 turnovers and make things happen on the defensive end as his 13 steals suggests. His assist total is fourth on the team, and that's an impressive number considering he missed the first 10 games of the season because he was academically ineligible.

Hopefully Burleson can play tonight, because Idaho (6-17, 3-9) has two solid scorers in the backcourt in Jordan Brooks (12.3) and Mike Hall (8.6). Earlier this season, Hall hit nine 3-pointers against San Jose State.

The 6-foot-3 Brooks grabbed 16 rebounds for the second time this year in Thursday's overtime win over Fresno State. Brooks proved to be a tough guard in the first Nevada game with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.