Iona dissects Nevada men’s basketball on national stage
Nevada senior forward Olek Czyz scored a game-high and career-high 28 points in a 90-84 loss at Iona on Saturday. Garrett Valenzuela/Nevada Sagebrush
Nevada’s game-ending theatrics didn’t materialize in a 90-84 loss at Iona on Saturday.
There couldn’t have been a better time for the Wolf Pack to show off its last-minute spectacles since the nationally televised “BracketBuster” contest aired on ESPN 2 and had 13 NBA scouts in attendance, according to the Iona College athletics department.
The Wolf Pack (21-5, 10-1 WAC) hasn’t been shy performing under pressure, as its won six-of-seven games decided by four points or fewer this season. However, the team could’t overcome a two possession game in the stretch against the Gaels (22-6, 13-3 MAAC).
Opportunities to win were there for Nevada’s sophomore point guard Deonte Burton and junior shooting guard Malik Story, but the two missed four-of-four 3-point shot attempts in the final four minutes of the game with the Wolf Pack down by as little as five points.
Instead, Gaels point guard Scott Machado stole the spotlight by picking apart the Wolf Pack defense.
Machado maintained his title as the nation’s leader in assists dishing out 15 of Iona’s 23 total. He also tacked on 13 points and earned ESPN’s Player of the Game title.
The scoring title went to Nevada senior forward Olek Czyz who scored a career-high 28 points along with seven rebounds and two steals. The Wolf Pack also owned the game’s leading rebounder in Dario Hunt with 14, who added 15 points as well to produce his tenth double-double of the season.
Four-of-five Wolf Pack starters scored in double figures including Story and Burton who combined for 31 points, but Nevada’s guard Jerry Evans fell short with five points on two-of-six shooting.
Distributing the basketball evenly amongst shooters was Iona’s key to success, as the Gaels had five players with double-digit point totals and a bench that outscored Nevada’s 25-5.
The Wolf Pack will now focus in on Western Athletic Conference goals, as it takes a week off before returning to action next Saturday at 7 p.m. on the road against Fresno State.
Nevada’s only outlet into the big dance is by way of winning the WAC Tournament.
Eric Lee Castillo can be reached at ecastillo@nevadasagebrush.com.
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