The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada forward Luke Babbitt during an earlier Wolf Pack game this season. Photo by Brian Bolton/The Nevada Sagebrush

The Wolf Pack used blazing-hot shooting in the second half of its first-round game in the National Invitation Tournament to beat Wichita State 74-70 Wednesday in Wichita, Kan.

Nevada shot 56 percent in the second half (14-of-25) from the field to win the period 43-39 and eventually lead by as many as 10 points.

Wolf Pack forward Luke Babbitt lead the team, once again. He scored 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 9-of-9 from the free-throw stripe. His point total not only lifted Nevada over the Shockers, but it lifted himself into Wolf Pack history. He finished the game with 729 this season — passing Nick Fazekas for first all-time in single-season mark.

“From what little we know about the Missouri Valley Conference, it’s known for physical defense,” Babbitt told the Associated Press after the game. “Wichita State is definitely a physical team, and we did a good job of keeping our cool and playing our game.”

Babbitt played 39-plus minutes in the game and was one of just four Nevada starters who logged more than 31 minutes (guards Brandon Fields and Armon Johnson and forward Dario Hunt did as well).

Although the Wolf Pack led by 10 in the second half, Wichita State, who owned a perfect 17-0 home record coming into this game, the Shockers climbed to within two points on multiple occasions. But thanks to clutch free-throw shooting from Nevada, Wichita State never made it over the hump.

The Wolf Pack will now more on to the second round of the tourney where it will play at No. 2 Rhode Island 3 p.m. Wednesday. Rhode Island beat No. 7 Northwestern 76-64 in the first round of the NIT.

Juan López can be reached at jlopez@nevadasagebrush.com.

Key Stats (click here to see the full game stats):

Nevada:

F Luke Babbitt: 23 points, four rebounds, 7-of-14 shooting

G Armon Johnson: 15 points, 7-of-12 shooting, two blocks

F Dario Hunt: 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks

G Brandon Fields: 11 points, two steals

Wichita State:

G Toure’ Murry: 15 points, six rebounds, 6-of-13 shooting

G Graham Hatch: 14 points, seven rebounds

F J.T. Durley: 11 points, three rebounds

Keys to the game:

–Nevada shot 56 percent (14-of-25) in the second half, outscoring Wichita State 43-39.

–The Wolf Pack made 17 free throws while the Shockers made eight.

Related Posts:

• Pack earns bid to NIT, will play Wichita State from Missouri Valley Conf.
• Five starters score double figures, Pack cruises past Idaho into second round
• Lack of depth plagues Pack
• Fields’ three-point bucket sends Pack home a winner
• Nevada halts losing skid, remains perfect at Lawlor