The Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball team took home a convincing victory against the Robert Morris Colonials, 86-49, in their first regular season game of the season on Monday, Nov. 2 at Lawlor Events Center.
Nevada entered the regular season off a flawless set of exhibition games, taking down the University of Utah and Portland State University in back-to-back home games.
Robert Morris won the tip and got the scoring started with a rapid 3-pointer by sophomore guard Darius Livingston.
The Pack were able to respond just as quickly, as a flurry of scoring from redshirt junior forward Elijah Price gave them the lead, 5-3.
After both teams traded scores, four consecutive free throws for the Wolf Pack extended their lead to 11-5.
With the score 13-9, sophomore guard KJ Garris Jr. drew a foul on a 3-point attempt, much to the displeasure of the home crowd. On the ensuing free throws, he drained all three to cut the Pack lead to one, with 14:13 to go in the half.
Then, both teams hit cold streaks from the field until a media timeout with 5:09 remaining in the half. The Wolf Pack led 27-22.
However, coming out of the timeout, two outstanding defensive possessions from Nevada led to scores by sophomore forward Peyton White and junior guard Styles Phipps, capping off a 7-0 run and extending their lead to nine.
On the following possession, senior forward KC Ugwuakazi made two free throws, cutting the lead to 31-24.
In the final two minutes of the half, Nevada turned up the tempo, going on a 10-0 run. A layup from Phipps, a dunk from White and 3-pointers from junior guards Peter Bandelj and TJ Coulter put the Pack up 17, 41-24.
At the half, Garris Jr. led with 10 points for the Colonials, while Phipps had 8 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Pack.
Nevada kept their run going into the second half, extending it to a 22-0 scoring run, making the score 53-24 , before it was finally broken. Weems, Price and Phipps led the way offensively all contributing in multiple offensive aspects.
The Pack kept on scoring, leading by as much as 33 with 10:49 to go in the half. Ubwuakazi converted a layup for the Colonials to cut into the lead, but Coulter and Phipps hit back-to-back triples to make the score 73-37 Nevada.
Freshman forward SJ Madison made a free throw to give the Pack their biggest lead of the night, 81-43, before they were able to close out the victory, 86-49.
Phipps contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his Wolf Pack debut, while Price led the way with 19 points. For the Colonials, Garris Jr. had 16 points and seven rebounds.
As a team, Robert Morris shot 27% from the field, while turning the ball over 19 times. Nevada was able to capitalize off those turnovers, scoring 24 points off turnovers alone.
Nevada was also able to dominate the glass, especially on the offensive end, totaling 21 offensive rebounds and 26 defensive rebounds.
Regarding the stress of home openers, head coach Steve Alford said, “Our guys couldn’t have handled it any better… Styles [Phipps], that’s the best we’ve seen him.”
Phipps attributed his performance to his teammates. “They all make my job easier,” he said.
In their next matchup, the Pack will travel to the Tahoe Blue Event Center to take on the Saint Mary’s Gaels on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
