Nevada's Jodan Caroline (24) shoots as UNLV's Brandon McCoy defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
LAS VEGAS — Jordan Caroline says Thomas & Mack is his favorite place to play.
If you look at his numbers at the Las Vegas venue, it’s easy to see why.
Caroline scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in last season’s regular-season game at UNLV, and then he followed that up with 55 points and 28 rebounds en route to winning MVP honors at the Mountain West Championships.
And, he was spectacular Wednesday with 22 points and six rebounds in Nevada’s 101-75 win over UNLV. Caroline went 7-for-8 from the floor and 7-for-9 at the line.
“I love this building,” he said. “It has a lot of history.”
Caroline has 1,059 points at Nevada. It moved him into 26th on the career scoring list. He is two points from overtaking Marvin Buckley (1984-86) for 25th.
ROAD IS NO PROBLEM
The Pack’s 11 road wins tied the 2004-05 for most in school history.
“We’ve done an unbelievable job playing on the road,” coach Eric Musselman said. “It hasn’t affected us.”
The 2003-04 team coached by Mark Fox ended the season 25-7, including a 16-2 record in the WAC. The Pack lost just one league road game that year to Fresno State on Jan. 29, 2004.
ALONE AT THE TOP
With Boise State’s loss at San Diego State on Tuesday, the Pack is the undisputed regular-season champion.
The Aztecs moved into the fifth and final bye spot with their 72-64 win over the Broncos.
Now, the Broncos will be unable to get to 14 or more wins. Boise State is 12-5 with one game left on the schedule. The Broncos are locked into the No. 2 seed.
BY THE NUMBERS
Entering the game, Nevada’s RPI was 15 with a strength of schedule at 57. The opponents’ strength of schedule is 91 … Nevada is 15-1 when scoring first and 21-1 when it leads at halftime … Jordan Caroline has 25 double-doubles, No. 9 all-time at Nevada. He trails Dario Hunt by one … Justin Brent, one of two walk-on football players now on the roster, scored on a nifty move to the basket to get Nevada over the century mark … Wednesday marked the 15th game where two Pack players scored 20 or more points this season.
STEPHENS BUILDS ON RECORD
Kendall Stephens made 4-of-8 three-pointers giving him 111 on the season which is third most in a season in Mountain West history. His 71 in conference play is a record.
SENIOR NIGHT
UNLV said adios to guards Jordan Johnson and Jovan Mooring in a pre-game ceremony.