Nevada Basketball: Wolf Pack will face off against the Rams in MW tournament final

The Nevada Wolf Pack (27-6, 14-4) are in the Mountain West tournament championship game for the first time ever as they will face off against the Colorado State Rams (23-10, 13-5). Nevada are looking to win the tourney title and clinch their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2007 when they were members of the WAC.

The Wolf Pack are coming off an 85-72 victory over Fresno State in the semifinals of Friday night. Nevada was down 32-21 after the first half but exploded in the second half going on a 25-2 scoring run and holding Fresno State without a bucket for over five minutes.

For the Wolf Pack, Marcus Marshall led the team with 28 points while Cameron Oliver chipped in with 27 points and seven rebounds. Jordan Caroline recorded a double-double scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort on Friday.

The Wolf Pack are facing a Colorado State team that came from behind to defeat the San Diego State Aztecs 71-63 in the second semifinal game on Friday night. The Rams got big contributions from Gian Clavell who scored 21 points and recorded six steals and Emmanuel Omogbo contributed with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.

In the lone regular season meeting between Nevada and Colorado State last week, the Wolf Pack defeated the Rams 83-72 to clinch the Mountain West regular season championship. Now, these teams will be playing again and this time, it will be for a trip to the NCAAs and for Nevada to win, they must crash the glass and defend Gian Clavell.

The Rams crash the glass with the best of them but the Wolf Pack did a good job in the first meeting and must continue to do so against Omogbo and the rest of the Rams frontcourt. Also, Gian Clavell is such a dynamic, all-around player that he could win the game on his own for the Rams so it is up to the Wolf Pack to corral the MW player of the year.

This game will be a back and forth contest and the Rams have the talent in Omogbo and Clavell to defeat Nevada. But the Wolf Pack offense is just on another level right now case in point, their offensive explosion in the second half against Fresno State in the semifinals last night. It will be close but the Wolf Pack will come out on top with the victory and the tournament championship.

Game Info:

Where: Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas

When: 3pm

TV: CBS

Radio: 94.5 FM