Nevada coach Eric Musselman fires up his players in the first half.
RENO — Nevada may have to play, at least on Wednesday, without talented junior guard Cody Martin.
Martin left the game 46 seconds into the second half with an apparent Achilles injury, according to head coach Eric Musselman.
“I’m concerned,” Musselman said after the Pack’s 83-57 victory Saturday at Lawlor Events Center. “We’ll see how it is. It’s nothing that will keep him out for an extended time, but it might keep him out of a couple of games.
“The team doctor and trainer will evaluate him. Somebody else has to step up if he can’t play.”
If Martin can’t go on Wednesday at San Jose State, Lindsey Drew would get even more minutes and certainly Hallice Cooke would get more playing time.
START FOR HALL
Sophomore swingman Josh Hall made his third start of the year, replacing Purdue transfer Kendall Stephens in the starting line-up.
Hall finished with seven points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. Stephens led the team with 19 points in 27 minutes, including five 3-pointers. Stephens has made five or more 3-pointers in a game seven times this season.
“It wasn’t to get Josh going,” Musselman said. “Defensively we were able to switch a lot of things. Sometimes you make a decision and see how it works.
“It didn’t affect Kendall. He took 16 shots. We’ll go back and watch tape and meet with the coaches, talk with the team and talk to Kendall to see if it’s a one-time thing.”
“I’ll definitely do whatever it takes for the team to win,” Stephens said. “I’m fine with that (coming off the bench). It’s not about me. Any of our players that are asked to come off the bench would be happy to do it. That’s the type of player coach Muss recruits. I’ll be ready for whatever coach asks of me.”
FIRING UP THE TROOPS
Nevada players said that Musselman hung some comments from the Logan paper in the locker room.
Utah State coach Tim Duryea talked about how the Aggies have had success playing at Lawlor Events Center. He was quoted as saying that the team has been in the game down the stretch with a chance to win, but just hasn’t been able to finish.
No that inflammatory, but Musselman obviously felt it might get the troops steamed.
“It was everywhere,” Stephens said.”You couldn’t miss it.”
“That added fuel to the fire,” Caleb Martin said. “It was all over the locker room to make sure we saw it.”
BY THE NUMBERS
For the 10th time this season, Nevada had four players score in double figures – Kendall Stephens, Lindsey Drew, Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline … Nevada has won its last 11 Mountain West regular-season game and 14 straight overall counting the three games at last year’s MW Tournament … The Pack is 38-4 at home under Musselman.
UP NEXT
Nevada takes to the road for a Wednesday game at San Jose State at 7:30 p.m.
Nevada has won five straight and 17 of last 18 against SJSU.
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