The Nevada Wolf Pack will host a showdown against the Santa Clara Broncos at Lawlor Events Center. Action begins at 10:00 pm ET on Friday, Dec. 18.
The Wolf Pack enter this game hoping for similar success after topping Drake 79-71 in their last matchup. Cameron Oliver played a pivotal role with 17 points, six rebounds, and one steal. The Broncos, meanwhile, are coming off a 69-57 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in their last game. Jared Brownridge led the team in scoring by accounting for 20 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
Tyron Criswell has taken his game to another level over the last five games for the Wolf Pack. During that stretch, he has averaged 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks. Nate Kratch has been hot for the Broncos. In the same five-game span, he is averaging 19.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks.
The Nevada defense could make it difficult on the shooters from Santa Clara. It ranks 11th in the nation in forcing misses (opponents’ eFG% of 41.9%), while the Santa Clara offense is 321st with a mark of 45.0%.
Nevada is a nine-point favorite against Santa Clara and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at 130 points. The Wolf Pack have gone 7-3 Straight Up (SU) and 4-4 Against The Spread (ATS). The Wolf Pack have no trouble scoring as they rank 39th in the nation in home offense with 88.5 points per game. The Wolf Pack are one of the best in Division I in terms of free throws made, making an impressive 18.0 per game. The rebounding edge goes to the Wolf Pack in this matchup, who are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with an average of 45.6 boards per game. Nevada’s defense can be considered one of the best in the country. The Wolf Pack allow a .365 opponent field-goal percentage, one of the lowest shooting rates in the country. Opponents have consistently had their shots rejected by the Wolf Pack, leading the country in blocks per game with 7.6.
Over on the other bench, the Broncos have records of 2-6-1 ATS and 4-7 SU.
This game will be the first meeting for Nevada and Santa Clara in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – Nevada, ATS Winner – Nevada, O/U – Over
Notes
Nevada is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games.
Nevada is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home.
Nevada scores 88.5 points per home game (ranked 39th). Santa Clara ranks a poor 209th in points allowed on the road, allowing 77.0 points.
The Nevada Wolf Pack have a defensive rating of 93.7 (ranked 56th), while the Santa Clara Broncos have an offensive rating of 94.7 (ranked 313th).
Santa Clara has an average field goal percentage of 39.5%. Nevada is an even 2-2 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
On average, Nevada attempts 17.0 three pointers and Santa Clara attempts 20.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, both have losing records. The Nevada Wolf Pack are 1-2 while the Santa Clara Broncos are 2-4.
The Nevada Wolf Pack are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with an average of 45.6 per game (ranked third). The Santa Clara Broncos are outside the top 100 with 35.8 rebounds per game (ranked 232nd).
Santa Clara ranks 268th in offensive rebounds, while Nevada ranks at 13th in defensive rebounds.
Santa Clara has forced an average turnover percentage of 20.2% this season. Nevada is an even 1-1 when its TO% is 20.2% or higher.
