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Story and photos by Mike Smyth
The Nevada Wolf Pack suffered their first loss of the season, losing a 75-68 decision to the visiting San Diego Toreros in a non-conference title on Friday at the Lawlor Events Center.
The pack was down 48:32 at break, which included a technical foul on a visibly frustrated Nevada head coach Steve Alford. The frustration likely stemmed from the fact that his team was simply overwhelmed by a determined San Diego squad.
“I have to give them credit, they attacked us very physically,” said Alford. “Your age, you have six seniors and your physical play hurt us.”
Torero Senior Guard Jase Townsend took San Diego 2-0 in the first half with 15 points on 5-of-7, a perfect 4-4 off the line and a pace the pack never seemed accustomed to . He would finish with 18 points.
The toreros shot 58% in half while the pack (1-1, 0-0 MW) went 13 of 30 out of the field, which meant a meager 43%.
Not exactly helpful was Grant Sherfield and Desmond Cambridge, Jr.’s backyard in Nevada combined for five first-half turnovers and three personal fouls.
Whatever Alford was saying in the locker room seemed to work when the wolf pack stormed back on a 15-0 run to close the gap to 48:47. The frank looks the toreros had enjoyed vanished, and Nevada’s pressure resulted in some slight baskets of sales as the score failed to score in the first 6:20 of the second verse.
The Lawlor crowd, larger than Tuesday’s opening game, was full of throats as Nevada climbed back into the game.
Junior striker Warren Washington was at the heart of the second half. Washington would finish 9-for-14, good for 18 points, while adding 10 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Grant Sherfield shows his hopes for a jump shot in the wolf pack’s 75-68 loss on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Tre Coleman of Nevada is doing his best to slow down Jase Townsend of San Diego, who led the toreros with 18 points in their win over the wolf pack 75-68 on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Nevada head coach Steve Alford was frustrated with the pack’s reigning 75-68 loss on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Cheerleaders challenge the crowd at the Lawlor Events Center in hopes of spurring Nevada to a comeback from 16 points behind the first half on November 12, 2021 in Reno, Nevada. (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Junior striker Warren Washington led Nevada by 18 points in their 75-68 loss to San Diego on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Nevada’s Desmond Cambridge Jr. made just 3 of 12 shots in Nevada’s 75-68 loss on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Grant Sherfield fought with San Diego’s defense in Nevada’s 75-68 loss on November 12, 2021 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada (Mike Smyth / This is Reno)
Sophomore Tre Coleman added 10 points while center Will Baker scored 12 points.
But despite their best efforts, Nevada would come closest with 51:51 and 12:12 remaining. The toreros rallied and made a 9-2 run, including a 3-point game from Townsend and a bucket from Marcellus Earlington, to regain control at 60:53 with 8:54 remaining.
San Diego’s physical style was a factor all night as they scored 40 of their 75 points inside.
“You had what, 40 points in the paint? This is crazy, ”said head coach Steve Alford.
Nevada threatened late, moving within four at 70-66 to play with 1:32 and Grant Sherfield on the line. Sherfield missed the crucial front-end of the 1-and-1, however, allowing San Diego to keep grinding the clock until Nevada was forced to start fouling.
“We have a huge five-game road trip ahead of us and we’re starting with two really tough games. We have some new pieces and we have to get together on the street, ”Alford said
Next up for the wolf pack: Santa Clara, Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Santa Clara.
Remarks
- Nevada’s AJ Bramah, fresh from an impressive start to their opening win over Eastern Washington, was a late afternoon scratch and is on concussion log. Further details were not known.
- 6-10 Junior KJ Hymes missed his second game in a row due to injury.
- Starting keepers Grant Sherfield and Desmond Cambridge, Jr. had an especially tough night walking 5-for-24 (21%) off the field, including 1-for-9 from a distance and flipping the ball seven times.
- Nevada as a team shot 47% from the field and only 27% from outside the arc.
Nevada signs top prospects from Illinois
Nevada’s head coach Steve Alford announced on Friday that security guard Trey Pettigrew (Chicago, Illinois / Kenwood Academy) had signed a National Letter of Intent.
Pettigrew is a three-star recruit (247Sports and Rivals) and is one of the top five prospects in Illinois for this year’s senior class, according to The Hoops Report.
Pettigrew, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound combo guard, played his first two prep seasons at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois before moving to Eduprize High School in Gilbert, Arizona for his junior season. He returned to Illinois this summer and is playing his final season at Kenwood Academy.
“Trey is a very athletic point guard who can play multiple positions in our backcourt,” said Alford. “He’s a high-ranking player from Chicago who brings a lot to our program on and off the floor. We are very happy that Trey will be part of our pack family. “
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