RENO - Nevada is in first place. Louisiana Tech is on a conference-best five-game winning streak.
Something will definitely give when the Wolf Pack (15-5, 8-2) hosts the rapidly improving Bulldogs (11-8, 6-4) in a key Western Athletic Conference battle tonight at Lawlor Events Center.
In the first meeting between the teams, Nick Fazekas scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in the 64-56 win. That, and the defensive job Kevinn Pinkney did against 6-foot-8 Bulldog star Paul Millsap were keys to victory. Pinkney kept Millsap away from the offensive glass, allowing Fazekas to enjoy a record night rebounding.
And, no doubt containing Millsap will again play a big role in tonight's game. He is coming off a 28-point, 12-rebound performance in Thursday's win over Fresno State.
"They are a very good team," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "They are well coached and traditionally a better road team than a home team. They have several good players and one great player.
"They are coming in here breathing fire. We have to play better basketball."
Pinkney held Millsap, who got into first-half foul problems, to just 13 points and nine rebounds, both numbers were below his season averages at that point. Millsap is averaging 18.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in conference play.
The Bulldogs have shortened their bench considerably. Only seven players saw action against Fresno State, and four of the starters played 35 minutes or more.
"They are playing the best basketball they've probably ever played," Pinkney said. "We have to rebound the first shot."
Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard admits that his team is playing well, especially on offense, but he's not sure where the current streak fits in among his past teams.
"I don't know," he said earlier in the week. "In the seven years I've been here, we've had a couple of pretty good runs. I don't know that it was the best (ever).
"In the last three or four games, we've had four guys in double figures. We've had much more balance offensively than in any part of the year. We're a better basketball team when that happens. We're trying to continue to have balance. It will make us a more consistent team."
Wayne Powell is averaging 12.8, Donnell Allick 10.9, Corey Dean 10.8 and point guard Daevon Haskins 7.9. Michael Wilds and Barry Thompson are the top subs off the bench.
Nevada got solid play from Seth Taylor off the bench against SMU. Taylor scored seven first-half points, including five in a big first-half run against SMU. Chad Bell has given the Wolf Pack some tough minutes subbing for Fazekas and Pinkney.
NOTES: The Bulldogs have identical records at home and on the road in conference play (3-2). ... The five straight wins is the longest in conference this year. UTEP won eight straight, Nevada won seven straight at one point and has won 11 of 13. ... Nevada takes to the road next week for games at Boise State (Thursday) and UTEP (Saturday).
Darrell Moody can be reached at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or by calling 881-1281.
