Sweet Caroline: Jordan Caroline drops season-high 40 points in win over Colorado State

If Jordan Caroline’s season could get any better, a season-high 40 points on 6-8 shooting from three-point range should do the trick. Caroline’s dominant offensive display propelled the 6th-ranked Nevada Wolf Pack over the Colorado State Rams 98-82 Tuesday.

Nevada improved to 22-1 on the season, its best start in school history after 23 games.

THE RUNDOWN:

OFFENSE:

• The Pack shot 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. Just three players scored in double-figures including Jazz Johnson with 15 points off the bench. Nevada added 28 points from the free-throw line as well on 35 attempts.
• Jordan Caroline Makes Mountain West History: To go along with his season-high 40-point outing, Caroline’s 12 rebounds marked his 41st career double-double, topping Andrew Bogut and Kawhi Leonard for the most in Mountain West Conference history. Caroline has remained under the radar for much of the season, but his relentless hustle on the boards and improved shooting from the perimeter is taking his game to the next level.

• Caleb Martin scores 25: Caleb Martin followed in Caroline’s footsteps with 25 points on 9-21 shooting. It was a cold night from the floor, but Martin’s put together three-straight 20-point outings or more. Per usual, Martin’s shot began to fall during the second half, but his highlight of the night came off an alley-oop lob from his twin brother Cody.

• Second Half Cool Down: The Pack shot a scorching 52 percent in the first half and followed it up with a 40 percent outing in the final 20 minutes. The Rams fought its way back in the game, but Caroline and Caleb Martin sealed the deal late.

DEFENSE:

• Nevada held Colorado State to 57 percent shooting on the night, which marks one of its worst defensive performances of the year. The Rams did shoot just 31 percent from three and Nevada won the rebounding battle 34-31. Nico Carvacho totaled a team-high 24 points and 17 rebounds.
• The Pack forced eight turnovers and totaled just two steals, but made up for it on the back end with four blocks including a backboard swat from Cody Martin to steal two points away from CSU.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Caroline’s performance stole the show, and rightfully so. He was the driving force in the first half and displayed unlimited range as soon as his foot was behind the three-point line. The senior transfer forward has put together a stunning resume over his collegiate career, and it may get even better come March.

UP NEXT:

The Wolf Pack face the New Mexico Lobos Saturday at Lawlor Events Center. The Lobos are 10-12 this season and 4-6 in conference, but thrashed Nevada 85-58 in their previous meeting.