LaGrone has spirit for the Wolf Pack

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - Matt LaGrone is a physical, competitive player. He doesn't back down from anything or anybody.

LaGrone and Fresno State's Hector Hernandez were jawing and jostling at each other on the way down the floor with Nevada holding a 60-44 lead with 12 1/2 minutes left in the game.

LaGrone was considered the instigator by the officials and received two technicals, thus was ejected and didn't get to watch the rest of the Wolf Pack's 79-67 win over Fresno State Thursday night at Lawlor Events Center.

It's believed that is the first Wolf Pack ejection since Jermaine Washington was kicked out of a game at UTEP three years ago.

"Evidently they were jawing as they were coming down the court," said Nevada coach Mark Fox. "He got a T for that and one for the shove."

Fox walked LaGrone off the court and into the tunnel.

"I told him I liked his spirit, but that we have to be a little bit smarter," Fox said.

Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said that both players deserved technicals.

"It's basketball," he said. "I don't even know the young man's name (LaGrone). They were kind of pushing and shoving."

LaGrone contributed two rebounds and an assist in his seven-minute stint.

FREE THROW WOES

Nevada didn't exactly help itself at the foul line, sinking only 13 of 22 attempts, barely over 50 percent.

Actually, the team shot well except for young JaVale McGee, who struggled with a 2-for-8 performance, and Brandon Fields, who was 4-for-7.

"We've shot them better lately than we did tonight," Fox said. "It's concentration and focus. We'll get better, or let's hope we do."

LOSS ON THE GLASS

Fresno State emerged with a 39-35 edge in the rebounding department, including a 16-9 edge on the offensive glass.

Nevada is 3-6 in games in which it has been outrebounded.

The Bulldogs beat Nevada on the glass by a 24-18 margin in the second half. Fresno State had 10 second-chance points.

"They got a lot of offensive rebounds, but there were a lot of misses," Fox said. "Of course a lot of misses leads to a lot of rebounds. We didn't rebound it as well once we got the lead."

BENCH PLAYS WELL

Nevada's bench had another productive effort, contributing 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Ray Kraemer drained both his 3-point attempts to finish with six points. Malik Cooke and Richie Phillips added a bucket apiece. Lyndale Burleson had a solid floor game with three assists and two steals in 12 minutes.

FACTS & FIGURES

Nevada is now 13-1 when leading at halftime ... Nevada has won 15 of its last 16 home WAC games and 32 of its last 35 games (overall) at home ... The 28 points by Marcelus Kemp was the second-most scored by an opposing player against Fresno State this season. Augie Johnston of Cal-State Monterey Bay scored 31 back on Dec. 4. Fresno State won that game 85-80 ... McGee blocked two shots to give him 90 in his career, moving him ahead of Kevinn Pinkney into sixth place on the all-time Nevada list ... Nevada now holds a 41-34 edge against Fresno State ... Kemp has 20 straight double-figure scoring games and 82 for his career ... Nevada visits Utah State on Saturday night before coming home for a three-game homestand.