FSM Essential Preview: UNLV Vs Nevada - Game 14

Photo Credit: UNLV Athletics

FSM Essential Preview: UNLV vs Nevada – Game 14

UNLV (6-7) vs. Nevada Wolfpack (10-7)

UNLV travels to play their in-state rival in the Nevada Wolfpack.

UNLV vs New Mexico — *Photo Credit: KTNV*

The Runnin’ Rebels saw their 5 game winning streak come to an end last time out, falling to Utah State by a score of 83-74. Now, UNLV will travel north to play Nevada. Nevada has played very similarly to UNLV this season. The Wolfpack come in at 10-7 with a 5-5 record in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV sits at 6-7 with a 3-3 Mountain West record.

Nevada sits 5^th while UNLV is 6^th in the standings, both teams being 4.5 games behind the first place Boise State Broncos. The Wolf Pack are coming off two straight losses at Wyoming last Friday and Sunday.

UNLV will look to beat Nevada for the first time since 2018.

The Nevada Wolfpack have dominated the Runnin’ Rebels over the past few years, winning the previous six games. They have won those six games by an average win margin of 14 points. Nevada has been streaky to start this season. They are coming off two straight losses to Wyoming. Before that, they defeated Fresno State in both games played against them, but that was after them being swept by San Diego State in two games.

Nevada is led by Grant Sherfield who leads the team in points, assists, and steals. He is averaging 18.5 points per game this season. Sherfield has been getting better and better each game this season, especially the last five games. He has been the Wolfpack’s leading scorer in 6 of the last 7 games scoring more than 20 points in each one of those games. Desmond Cambridge Jr. is also averaging 15 points per game for the Wolfpack.

Bryce Hamilton is the leading scorer for the Runnin” Rebels averaging 18 points a game. He leads the team in points, assists, and steals just like Sherfield does the Wolfpack. However, Hamilton is coming off his worst performance of the season. He was limited to just 2 points shooting 1-12 from the field. Hamilton has been limited recently with an ankle injury.

David Jenkins had a career game dropping 33 points. Jenkins Jr. is also averaging in double figures in scoring with 15.9 ppg, is first in the MWC in 3-pointers made (2.9 per game), and is second in 3-point percentage (.422). It will be an entertaining battle between Hamilton for UNLV and Sherfield for the Wolfpack to see who can lead their squad to the victory.

The defensive play in these games could be the determining factor in who comes out victorious.

The defense for UNLV this season continues to improve. After the first few games of the season, it was clear it was the weak spot for this Runnin’ Rebels team. However, since they started Mountain West Conference play, they have allowed an average of 66 points per game. A drastic improvement from the 78 points per game from out of conference play. UNLV is 0-7 this season when they allow more than 74 points a game. They will look to slow down Sherfield and company.

UNLV will be looking to be the superior team in the state of Nevada not in just these two games, but this season and defeating the Wolfpack head to head in these games will go a long way in accomplishing that.