The 16 most memorable video games within the Nevada-UNLV basketball rivalry

The Nevada and UNLV basketball groups play Friday at Lawlor Events Center within the first of two matchups this common season, marking the 102nd sport performed between the rivals in a sequence that dates to 1962. UNLV leads the sequence 65-36. While most of the early video games on this rivalry had been lopsided— solely 41 of the 101 have been determined by single digits with a mean scoring margin of 13.0 factors— there have been extra immediate classics in recent times with three overtimes video games since 2016 after only one within the first 81 matchups. Here are the 16 most memorable video games in Nevada-UNLV basketball historical past because the rival colleges write a further chapter on the sequence Friday evening in Reno.

16 most memorable Nevada-UNLV video games

16. Nevada 71, UNLV 51 (Jan. 22, 1962): UNLV has dominated this sequence by successful 65 of the 101 matchups (practically two-thirds of the video games), however the rivalry’s first victory went to Nevada, which took a 20-point residence win within the sequence debut and added a 12-point win in the future later because the groups performed on back-to-back nights. The Wolf Pack wasn’t excellent that season, going 11-15. But UNLV was a fledgling program taking part in on the Division II degree greater than a decade earlier than it employed Jerry Tarkanian, who launched this system into the nationwide highlight. Despite Nevada’s back-to-back wins to open the sequence, UNLV dominated from the beginning, successful 16 of the primary 23 video games between the faculties earlier than Tark’s hiring.

15. Nevada 104, UNLV 77 (Feb. 9, 2017): This one was memorable for a number of causes. Famed ring announcer Michael Buffer did the pre-game introductions. Lawlor Events Center set an area file with 11,841 followers. Then Nevada pasted UNLV within the wire-to-wire win to set a program file for the most important margin of victory over the Rebels at 27 factors, which it beat weeks later by pounding UNLV by 36 factors in Las Vegas. Wolf Pack senior D.J. Fenner set a scoring file for a Nevada participant towards UNLV, posting a career-high 37 factors on 12-of-15 capturing, together with 5-of-6 capturing from three.

14. UNLV 131, Nevada 81 (Dec. 8, 1990): The No. 1 workforce within the nation has visited Lawlor Events Center twice — North Carolina on Dec. 31, 2008 and this loaded UNLV workforce in 1990. Things didn’t go properly for the Wolf Pack because the Rebels’ 50-point victory stays essentially the most lopsided in sequence historical past. It’s additionally the most important defeat Nevada has ever taken at Lawlor Events Center. Ric Herrin had 22 factors and eight rebounds for the Wolf Pack, however Nevada received destroyed from the 3-point line. The Rebels hit 21-of-46 threes (45.7 %). Larry Johnson had a team-high 21 factors, Evric Gray added 19, Stacey Augmon and Anderson Hunt had 18 apiece and Greg Anthony chipped in 13 factors and eight assists. The Rebels went 34-1 that season, its solely loss coming to Duke within the Final Four.

13. Nevada 93, UNLV 88 (Feb. 5, 1994): The longest win streak on this sequence belongs to UNLV, which received 11 straight from 1985-1994 earlier than the Wolf Pack ended the drought with this win. The Wolf Pack shot a ridiculous 62.7 % from the sector, together with 8-of-13 capturing from three. Jimmy Moore sank 14-of-22 photographs for a game-high 29 factors whereas Jerry Hogan added 20 factors, making 6-of-7 threes. Eathan O’Bryant chipped in 16 factors, 9 assists, six rebounds and three steals because the Wolf Pack avenged a 97-93 loss from earlier within the season. UNLV shot 56.1 % however could not cease the Wolf Pack offense. This sport marked a turning level within the rivalry. UNLV received 42 of the primary 52 video games between the groups, however Nevada is 26-23 towards the Rebels since this 1994 victory.

12. Nevada 65, UNLV 63 (Jan. 23, 2016): This sport was Eric Musselman’s debut within the Nevada-UNLV rivalry. Before the sport, he received a textual content from a Wolf Pack administrator that learn, “You’re going to feel something you haven’t felt here.” That’s how huge this sport is, and it proved right. In entrance of 11,341 followers, Nevada dug out of a nine-point second-half gap to drag out the win. Despite an off-shooting evening, Marqueze Coleman tallied 21 factors, 5 assists and 5 rebounds whereas sinking 15-of-20 free throws. The Wolf Pack received regardless of not making a 3-pointer (0-of-9) and being outshot from the sector 47.9 % to 32.8 %. UNLV missed 14-of-28 free throws. With Nevada main by two, UNLV’s Patrick McCaw could not join on a halfcourt 3-point try on the buzzer to win the sport (though he did hit an important halfcourt heave within the rematch one month later; see sport No. 2 on this listing).

11. UNLV 58, Nevada 49 (Dec. 9, 2006): Nevada and UNLV have reached the NCAA Tournament in the identical season solely 3 times, together with simply as soon as within the final 34 years. That yr was 2006-07 when Nevada received 29 video games and UNLV received 30, each advancing within the NCAA Tournament, too. So, this 2006 matchup was epic, though it did not lead to many factors. Playing earlier than 11,368 followers at Lawlor Event Center, the Rebels upset the No. 20-ranked Wolf Pack, snapping Nevada’s three-game successful streak within the sequence. Ramon Sessions and Nick Fazekas each scored 16 factors — Fazekas added 17 rebounds — with that duo hitting 12-of-25 photographs. The remainder of the workforce scored 17 factors on 5-of-24 capturing. Nevada made solely 1-of-15 threes.

10. UNLV 82, Nevada 80 (Dec. 4, 2002): This was a sloppy sport because the groups mixed for 40 turnovers, nevertheless it was a back-and-forth warfare. Nevada’s Dean Browne hit a jumper with 1 minute, 8 seconds left to place the Wolf Pack forward by two. That was the final time the Wolf Pack scored. Darlon Johnson tied the sport with a layup with 42 seconds remaining earlier than a missed 3-pointer by Nevada’s Terrance Green arrange Marcus Banks’ driving 10-foot jumper with lower than a second left, the newest game-winning basket within the rivalry’s historical past, which left the Lawlor Events Center crowd shocked. Banks, a future NBA participant, completed with 35 factors on 12-of-19 capturing, including 5 assists and 5 steals. Kirk Snyder led Nevada with 16.

9. Nevada 79, UNLV 74 (March 8, 2018): Nevada and UNLV have performed one another twice within the postseason, the latest time coming in 2018 as a part of the Mountain West Tournament. The groups cut up the regular-season sequence with the street foe successful each video games. That development continued because the Wolf Pack ended the Rebels’ season with a win within the MW Tournament quarterfinal at Thomas & Mack Center. It was a a lot nearer sport than anticipated as UNLV led 39-31 at halftime and was up by 12 factors within the second half earlier than Nevada went on a 22-6 run. Jordan Caroline scored a game-high 21 factors whereas grabbing 10 rebounds. Nevada misplaced to San Diego State within the semifinals however reached its second Sweet 16 later that postseason.

8. Nevada 64, UNLV 62 (Jan. 8, 2015): Marqueze Coleman preferred taking part in towards UNLV, a workforce he had many memorable moments towards. The most memorable got here in 2015. With the sport in Las Vegas, Coleman hit a 20-foot soar shot with 4.2 seconds left to ship Nevada to the two-point win, its third straight over the Rebels, which on the time was a faculty file (Nevada later received eight straight over UNLV). AJ West had an enormous sport for the Wolf Pack, tallying 15 factors, 15 rebounds (10 on the offensive glass) and 6 blocks. Eric Cooper Jr. chipped in 12 factors off the bench as Nevada’s reserves out-scored UNLV’s bench gamers, 25-9.

7. Nevada 82, UNLV 79, OT (Feb. 12, 2020): The third time beyond regulation sport on this sequence’ historical past went to the Wolf Pack. After Nevada took an 11-point first-half lead, it was a back-and-forth sport from there. Neither workforce led by greater than 4 factors within the second half earlier than Jalen Harris and Bryce Hamilton traded late baskets to ship the sport to time beyond regulation. Harris missed a driving layup as time expired in regulation. He made up for it by scoring 5 of Nevada’s eight factors within the additional session earlier than Elijah Mitrou-Long missed a possible game-tying 3-pointer on the buzzer to clinch the Nevada win. Harris completed with 29 factors, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals whereas taking part in all 45 minutes. UNLV went an abysmal 12-of-25 on free throws.

6. Nevada 76, UNLV 72 (March 9, 2014): It was Deonte Burton’s senior evening, and the Wolf Pack nice went out in fashion. Nevada trailed by 17 factors within the second half earlier than staging the most important comeback within the rivalry’s historical past. Cole Huff hit the go-ahead jumper with 33 seconds left earlier than Marqueze Coleman iced the sport with two free throws with seven seconds left. But the star of the sport was Burton, who had 25 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists, together with some gym-rattling dunks earlier than a frenzied crowd of 10,317 followers. The sport capped solely the fourth two-game single-season sweep of UNLV for the Wolf Pack on the time (Nevada has added six extra since then).

5. Nevada 97, UNLV 89 (Nov. 23, 1984): This was the Wolf Pack’s second residence opener in Lawlor Events Center historical past and marked Nevada’s first huge win in its new area. It additionally was the most effective workforce Nevada had overwhelmed at that time in its historical past as UNLV was ranked No. 11 within the nation. It stays the fourth-highest-ranked workforce the Wolf Pack has overwhelmed behind victories over Gonzaga (No. 2 in 2004) and Kansas (No. 6in 2003) and Cincinnati (No. 6 in 2018). It was the season opener for each groups and Nevada, led by Dwyane Randall and Curtis High, powered the Wolf Pack previous UNLV’s Armon Gilliam and Freddie Banks, who led their workforce to a 29-4 file that season, successful 18 in a row at one level.

4. Nevada 86, UNLV 76 (Dec. 10, 1981): Nevada has overwhelmed simply two Top 25 groups on the street in its historical past. The was the primary of these cases as Sonny Allen’s crew upset the No. 15-ranked Rebels by double-digits in a sport performed on the Las Vegas Convention Center. UNLV had two future NBA gamers in Sidney Green and Dwayne Polee, however the Wolf Pack countered with Ken “Tree” Green, James “BB” Fontenet, Greg Palm, Billy Allen and Sam Mosley. This marked the third time Nevada beat a Top 25 workforce in its historical past following victories over No. 14 Georgetown and No. 19 San Francisco in 1978. This was considered one of Nevada’s two wins over Tarkanian, who was a outstanding 23-2 towards the Wolf Pack.

3. UNLV 69, Nevada 67, OT (March 4, 2023): In the 2023 regular-season finale, UNLV led 31-21 at half earlier than Nevada went on a 12-0 run early within the second half to tie the sport earlier than an 18-6 run put the Wolf Pack up by eight factors with 2 minutes, 28 seconds remaining. But UNLV rallied again to tie the sport on a Luis Rodriguez layup with 10 seconds left. Kenan Blackshear missed a possible game-winning jumper on the finish of regulation earlier than little-used reserve Jackie Johnson III scored seven factors with two assists within the additional interval. With Nevada down 69-67 with 8 seconds left, Blackshear missed a free throw and UNLV received the rebound. But Darrion Williams secured a steal earlier than lacking a contested layup to seal UNLV’s win. It was the one residence loss for Nevada that season, depriving the Wolf Pack of its second good residence file.

2. UNLV 102, Nevada 91, OT (Feb. 20, 2016): The craziest ending in Nevada-UNLV historical past goes to this sport, which noticed Marqueze Coleman hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining to provide Nevada an 80-77 lead at Thomas & Mack Center earlier than Patrick McCaw launched a desperation heave from the sting of the midcourt brand that hit nothing however internet because the buzzer sounded, sending the sport to time beyond regulation. UNLV proceeded to pound Nevada within the additional session, marking considered one of solely two instances Eric Musselman misplaced to the Rebels (he was 7-2 versus UNLV). McCaw’s 25 factors led UNLV, which was down to only six scholarship gamers as a result of accidents. Coleman had 31 factors for Nevada, however his obvious game-winner went for naught.

1. UNLV 98, Nevada 96, 2OT (Dec. 8, 1987): While Nevada-UNLV time beyond regulation video games have turn out to be extra commonplace in recent times, the weren’t early on. This was the one time beyond regulation sport performed between the groups from 1962-2015. In 1987, closely favored UNLV barely escaped Lawlor with a two-point double-overtime win. UNLV spent all the yr within the Top 25, peaking at No. 2, however the Wolf Pack gave the Rebels every thing they might deal with. Bryon Strachan performed all 50 minutes for Nevada, scoring a team-high 21 factors. Future NBA participant Gerald Paddio scored a game-high 30 for UNLV. A then-Lawlor file 10,330 followers had been in attendance figuring out they witnessed one of many nice Nevada-UNLV video games, albeit in a Wolf Pack loss.

Sports columnist Chris Murray gives perception on Northern Nevada sports activities. Contact him at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.