Nevada Basketball: Wolf Pack to host Iona

The Nevada Wolf Pack, fresh off their impressive victory over Oregon State on Friday, will play host to the Iona Gaels on Sunday afternoon in Reno. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since December of 2013 when the Wolf Pack defeated Iona 80-72.

On Friday night, the Wolf Pack took control of the game against the Beavers with a double-digit lead early in the game and never looked back. Cameron Oliver led the team in scoring with 24 points and three other Wolf Pack players scored in double figures as the 83-58 Nevada victory over Oregon State was the Wolf Pack’s biggest win over a Power 5 school at home in ten years.

The Wolf Pack will face an Iona team that returns three of their top five top scorers from last year’s team that made the NCAA tournament. However, the team started this season on a sour note as they lost their season opener to Florida State on Tuesday 99-78. The Gales are led by former Connecticut guard Sam Cassell Jr., who led the team in scoring on Tuesday with 28 points and also, hit five three-pointer in the losing effort.

The Wolf Pack must defend Cassell well and not let him get going and they must also defend the three- point line. As a team, Iona averaged 27 three-point attempts last season (they made 37 percent of their threes last season) and in the game against Florida State, the Gaels attempted 31 three pointers so it behooves the Wolf Pack to guard that three-point line on Sunday.

The Wolf Pack are playing very good basketball right now and they’re playing especially well at home where they are 18-3 at Lawlor Events Center under Eric Musselman and have won seven straight home games. Despite the quick turnaround and a high scoring Gaels team that will challenge the Wolf Pack on defense, Nevada has the talent to get their third win of the season and push their home winning streak to eight.

GAME INFO:

When: Sunday at 5pm

Where: Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

TV: None

Online: NevadaWolfPack.TV