The Lawlor Events Center was bustling with activity this evening, and for very good reason. Nevada welcomed MW’s new foe, GCU, with a sold-out student section and plenty of fans lining the stands.
It took an extra period to finish it off, but a late comeback fueled by a few clutch free throws gave Nevada a 66-60 overtime victory.
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Summary of scores
1st half
GCU 24 – Nevada 26
2nd half
GCU 29 –Nevada 27
OT
GCU 7 – Nevada 13
Final: GCU 60, Nevada 66
Offense
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Corey Camper Jr. opened the scoring for Nevada. A fadeaway jumper gave Nevada a 2-0 lead, but that would be it for now. A nearly five-minute lack of scoring stunned the Pack offense early on until Peyton White hit a three to cut the deficit to five.
The momentum began to shift thanks to Chuck Bailey launching a three, followed by a fast break score in the paint to bring the Wolf Pack within double digits. Nevada continued that trend with an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 15-13 GCU with just under eight minutes to play.
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Nevada finally caught up just over three minutes in when Tyler Rolison hit a jumper to tie it at 22. Moments later, Nevada took its first lead since the start on a Vaughn Weems layup and went on a 9-0 run to go up 24-22.
Just like the first half, Camper started the second half with a layup to increase Nevada’s lead to four. But once again, Nevada’s offense stalled and didn’t score for more than four minutes after Camper’s first two points. The Wolf Pack took advantage of a save on a goalkeeper to equalize at 30 and end this drought.
Bailey got things started with a corner three, which was just the third three-pointer for Nevada so far. Nevada would finish 7-17 from beyond the arc on the night.
“We had some guys who had some off nights and really challenged our bench,” Steve Alford said of Nevada’s 41-2 performance off the bench. “That’s what this team has done all year, they’ve faced the challenges and different people have stepped up.”
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Tayshawn Comer’s name was called for the first time on two free throw attempts, scoring his first points of the game. Nevada finished the first half just 2-6 from the free throw line and went 17-26 from the line overall. Comer made his first basket of the game with a corner three to cut the deficit to six points.
With less than a minute remaining, White hit a three that made it 53-50. A GCU turnover gave the ball back to Nevada with 26 seconds left. White got the ball again and simply threw it in the air as they defended, but no foul was called.
With less than a second to play, Nevada inbounded the ball and gave it to Rolison, who threw it on a prayer. Upon review, the foul call was upheld and TR3 lined up and made all three free throws, sending this game into overtime tied at 53.
“To make three free throws there, that’s the hardest time to make three free throws,” Alford said.
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Nevada’s first points in overtime came from another Bailey three-pointer for a 56-55 lead. GCU responded, as did Bailey, hitting three more for a 59-57 lead with less than three minutes to play.
“Our guys found a way,” Alford said. “I did it. I couldn’t be happier, we continued to write our beliefs on the board.”
Defense
After going down 0-2, GCU went on a quick 6-0 run during the first media timeout, scoring all six points in the paint. The Antelopes continued to make shots (some questionable early foul calls contributed to the momentum) and the first three-pointer for GCU fell shortly after Nevada’s.
The scoring bug plagued GCU for over five minutes, but it took advantage of more foul shots to maintain the lead. In the final six minutes, CCU turned the ball over six times and eight times in the first half. Nevada turned those points into nine points and held the Antelopes offense at bay.
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GCU shot a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line in the first half, but shot just 33 percent from the field and 20 percent from deep.
“It was a fun battle,” Rolison said of facing GCU for the first time as conference opponents. “They’re a physical team and overall a great team, so I think it’ll be a great battle as the years go by.”
The Antelopes kept pace early, including a dunk by Jaden Henley to keep the game within two points. The first media timeout of the second half put GCU up 30-28 thanks to a quick 6-0 run by the Antelopes.
The next media timeout had the advantage in favor of the Antelopes after a corner three gave GCU a 41-39 lead with 7:48 to play. It was GCU’s first three games of the second half, ending the night 4-23 in that department.
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GCU’s interior attack opened the floodgates, going 14-2 in three and a half minutes to go up nine with a 50-41 lead with 5:24 to play. GCU scored 30 points in the paint, compared to 18 for Nevada.
GCU missed two free throws in those final seconds that would have sealed the game for the Antelopes, but instead Nevada capitalized and sent it to overtime. GCU had two more scoring chances in overtime, missing both shots and allowing Nevada to slowly run away with the lead.
What’s next
It will be a two-game week for Nevada, with the next game on Friday, January 30 against in-state rival UNLV.
The tipoff against the rebels is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.
