RUSTON, La. - Kevinn Pinkney made the ultimate sacrifice Thursday night, and it paid off in Nevada's first Western Athletic Conference road win of the season.
Pinkney scored only six points and grabbed only four rebounds in Nevada's 64-56 win, but it was his defensive work on Louisiana Tech sophomore Paul Millsap that was a focal point in the win. Pinkney held Millsap to 13 points and nine rebounds, far below his season averages (20 and 12) in both categories.
"He scored six points and had four rebounds, and he might have been the best player on the floor," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "He really did a job."
"He did a nice job," Louisiana coach Keith Richard said. "I think Pinkney's height (6-10 compared to 6-8) bothered him more than anything else. Pinkney's length bothered him. He had three or four traveling calls in the first half and he altered some shots."
Pinkney was especially effective in the first half. Millsap had just two points and three rebounds in 15 first-half minutes.
"I don't think he was ready for my physical play," Pinkney said. "I just tried to deny him (the ball) and keep him off the glass."
Pinkney's ability to screen off Millsap on the offensive glass enabled teammate Nick Fazekas to grab a career-high 18 rebounds.
"We had to have somebody else go get the ball," Fox said. "I told the team that Kevinn was not going to let his guy rebound so somebody else has to go get it."
Millsap had 11 points and six rebounds in the second half, but sat out approximately six minutes in the second half after picking up his fourth foul.
GOOD LUCK CHARM
Ramon Sessions' mom, Ann, made the 13-hour drive from South Carolina to attend the game. It's the second time she has seen Ramon play, and it's the second time the Wolf Pack have won.
Sessions said after the game that his mom was going to attend Saturday's game in Dallas against SMU. He said he doesn't get nervous playing in front of his mom.
"Oh no, I've played in front of her my whole life," Sessions said after scoring 12 points and pulling down seven rebounds in his 36-minute stint.
Seth Taylor's parents also drove over from Texas to attend the game, and he should have a big following at SMU. Taylor grew up in Grapevine.
IN LOVE WITH THE THREE
Through Wayne Powell's first three seasons at Louisiana Tech, he took only nine three-point shots, sinking five of them.
In 12 games this season, Powell has attempted 25 three-point shots. He led Tech in scoring with 15 points, including three three-point shots. All told, Powell was 6-for-12 from the floor and pulled down six rebounds.
NEW HIGH FOR BELL
Reserve center Chad Bell set a career high with six points in 15 minutes against the Bulldogs. The output eclipsed the five points he scored last week against San Jose State.
Bell had a nice jump hook and two free throws to spark a 10-0 run by the Wolf Pack in the first half. He grabbed two rebounds, dished out an assist and also blocked a shot.
SEARCHING FOR POINTS
Louisiana coach Keith Richard has been juggling his lineup of late. He didn't start Donell Allick or Wayne Powell against the Wolf Pack, opting instead for Barry Thompson and Jeremy Johnson.
Richard said it was effort in practice that won starts for Johnson, but he also said not to read anything into it. Allick went 0-for-7 from the floor in the last game, and if he's not scoring, then he won't be effective. Defense isn't his strength.
This is the fourth straight game Louisiana Tech has failed to shoot over 40 percent from the floor. And, other than Millsap and Powell, the offense lacked punch.
"I don't think we're rushing things," Richard said. "We're no better or no worse than anybody else. We don't have a great three-point shooter. Paul is a great offensive rebounder, but he's not a great offensive player, yet. Offense is an issue for us as a team."
Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1281.
