RENO — Hallice Cooke’s perfect shooting night helped key Nevada’s 88-73 win over UC Davis on Tuesday.
Cooke, a transfer from Iowa State, went 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line en route to a season-best 12 points in 19 minutes.
Nevada’s bench produced 41 points. Caleb Martin had 22, Cooke, 12, Elijah Foster, 5, and Josh Hall, 2.
“That is Hallice’s best game since he came to Nevada,” coach Eric Musselman said. “He’s done a lot of work on his 3-point shooting. We need Hallice Cooke to play better.”
Musselman admitted that he’s been reluctant to play bench people because of lack of production.
The Nevada coach also was encouraged by the play of Hall, who had five assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Foster had five points in four first-half minutes.
CAROLINE SHINES AGAIN
Jordan Caroline posted his seventh 20-point game of the season and third straight.
Sixteen came in the second half, as he bulled his way to the hoop time and again. He had five points in a key 10-3 second-half run.
“My teammates are getting me the ball in good positions,” Caroline said.
BY THE NUMBERS
Nevada has won 11 consecutive home games and is 35-4 at Lawlor since Musselman took over … Tuesday was the seventh time Nevada has had two 20-point scorers in a game. Nevada has had a 20-point scorer in every game this year … This is the sixth time that Nevada has had four double-figure scorers … The first half has been key for Kendall Stephens. In the past six games, he’s averaging 10 points a game in the opening half … Darien Williams started in lieu of Caleb Martin, but played just four minutes. He went 0-for-2 from the floor, had one steal and grabbed one rebound.
SCHEDULING IS WORKING
As of Tuesday night, Nevada had an RPI of 18 with a 52 strength of schedule according to the NCAA. Nevada’s best win was over No. 21 Rhode Island.
A month into the season, ESPN Bracketology guru Joe Lunardi has Nevada as a No. 8 seed playing Oklahoma in the first round in Wichita. Kansas is the top seed in the bracket.
Jerry Palm of CBS Sports is giving the Pack a lot of love. He has Nevada seeded No. 6 in the South and playing Clemson.
UP NEXT
Both teams head to Las Vegas for the conclusion of the Continental Tires Classic this weekend at the Orleans Arena.
Nevada faces Southern Illinois at 8 p.m. in the featured match-up on Friday. The Aggies will face Lamar at 2:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Nevada squares off against USF at 8 p.m., and Davis will play either Radford or North Carolina A&T at either 12 or 2:30 p.m.
Both Nevada games will be broadcast on FoxSports1.
