Nevada Basketball holds on with 73-68 victory over Wyoming

Nevada men’s basketball extended its win streak to a season-high six games with a 73-68 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys (7-22, 2-15) Tuesday at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo.

The Wolf Pack held a 71-68 lead with 33 seconds remaining. A Pack turnover awarded the Cowboys the ball with 18 seconds remaining. Wyoming’s Hunter Maldonado missed a contested 3-pointer with three seconds left. Nevada clinched the win with two free throws from Lindsey Drew.

Nevada swept the season series versus Wyoming and have won seven of the last eight meetings. The Wolf Pack are 5-4 (.556) in games decided by five or fewer points this season. Three of Nevada’s last four victories have come within five points.

Tuesday’s win improves Nevada to 19-10 with a 12-5 conference record. Nevada is tied with Utah State for second place in the Mountain West standings at 12-5.

The Pack finish the regular season with a 4-7 (.364) road record, including wins in their final three road games.

Nevada shot 45.3 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep.

Jalen Harris led Nevada with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting and 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. He has totaled double-digit scoring in 25 consecutive games. It was his eighth-straight 20-point performance and 18th on the season.

The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging a conference-best 25.4 points in 17 conference games.

Jazz Johnson tallied 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He has reached double-digits in 24 games on the year.

Wyoming shot 38.6 percent from the floor and 35.5 from 3-point range. The Cowboys shot 54.4 percent of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc.

Tuesday was Wyoming’s final home contest of the season. Jake Hendricks and A.J. Banks were honored during a pre-game ceremony for Senior Night.

Hendricks had arguably the best game in his Wyoming career. He tallied 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc—both tying his previous career highs. Banks had two points on 1-of-7 shooting with team-high four assists.

Maldonado added 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting. TJ Taylor added 11 points with a team-high seven rebounds.

Nevada finished plus-16 on the glass. The Pack out-rebounded the Cowboys 10-2 on the offensive glass. Nevada’s Robby Robinson hauled in game-high eight rebounds for Nevada.

Harris’ layup gave Nevada an early 8-2 lead. Johnson’s layup extended the Pack advantage to 15-7 with 9:21 remaining in the opening half.

Nine consecutive points from Hendricks cut Nevada’s lead to 21-19 with 4:54 left. The Pack responded with a 7-0 run to lead 28-19.

Nevada possessed a 28-24 halftime lead. The Wolf Pack shot 43.3 percent and 25 percent from 3-point range. Wyoming shot 32 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from deep.

The Pack opened the second half with two consecutive baskets from Johncarlos Reyes. Hendricks’ fourth 3-pointer of the night trimmed Nevada’s lead to 40-34 with 16:14 remaining. Zane Meeks’ 3-pointer gave the Pack a 49-39 advantage.

Both teams traded 3-point baskets. Harris’ 3-pointer gave Nevada its largest lead of the game at 59-47 with 10:16 remaining. Wyoming responded with an 8-0 run capped-off by a 3-pointer from Maldonado to trim the score to 59-55.

Harris, a Mountain West Player of the Year candidate, went to the bench with 6:32 remaining after picking up his fourth foul. Wyoming capitalized and out-scored Nevada 9-2 in the next 2:11 before he re-entered, cutting the Pack lead to 63-62.

Wyoming missed its final four shots in the last 2:46. Drew’s free throws clinched the win.

The Wolf Pack close the regular season Saturday against No. 5 San Diego State (27-1, 16-1). Tip off will be at 5 p.m. PST on ESPN2. Nevada has won 34 of its last 36 conference home games, including 20 straight.