Watch out for Nevada come tourney time

Nevada sure seems to be peaking at the right time, with sixth-year senior Marcelus Kemp leading the charge. It's telling that Utah State, even with an all-senior starting backcourt and soon-to-be WAC Player of the Year Jaycee Carroll, isn't the all-efficiency unit of the past.

We've highlighted a quote by Gary Wilkinson in the first article -- words that need to be kept in mind. Here is a very solid player, albeit a newcomer to D-1 from the junior college ranks, and he is talking about the critical mental approach that is needed to win games and how he is just getting the hang of it.

Besides Wilkinson, the Aggies are also starting two freshman -- obviously talented ones and 21 years olds -- but just like the Supremes of way back with "You Can't Hurry Love," full-fledged 'getting it' takes time, effort, experience and lots and lots of patience.

Nevada 85, USU 80
USU: Aggies at least show heart in making it close
Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune
2/12/2008

RENO, NV - A funny thing happened on the way to a Nevada blowout Monday night - Utah State showed up in the second half.

For the first time this season, USU played hard-nosed basketball away from Logan. The Aggies lost the game, 85-80, but may have found their heart. Jaycee Carroll's 24-point second-half performance provided the pulse.

Nevada had to sweat for its victory in the Lawlor Events Center, a win that pulled it within a half-game of the Aggies in the Western Athletic Conference race. However, USU rallied from 18 down to come within four points with 46 seconds to play.

Marcelus Kemp, who scored 35, sealed the game by converting 5 of 6 free throws.

"We kept our composure," Kemp said. "Jaycee and others made some tough shots, but we kept our composure and got the win."

USU coach Stew Morrill wasn't about to crow about a moral victory. However, "Our team hung in there and battled," he said. "I have no complaints about our effort. We had the tempo of the game where we wanted it. We let it get away from us."

Tempo means everything for Utah State (18-7, 8-2 WAC), which prefers a moderate, run-the-offense style of game. The Aggies had the tempo they wanted and, despite struggling a bit offensively, had a one-point lead with four minutes to play in the first half.

Nevada (16-8, 8-3) then put the hammer down defensively outscoring USU 37-18 during the next 14 minutes to take a 64-46 lead.

Plus,

"I'm learning how to win in the WAC on the road," said Wilkinson, who finished with 12 points. "In the second half, I started to get a feel for the game..."

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and

From the Nevada perspective:

Kemp blows up in Nevada win over Utah St.
DARRELL MOODY
Nevada Appeal Sports
February 12, 2008

RENO -- Star players tend to come up big in important games.

Monday night was one of Nevada's biggest, most important games of the season, and Marcelus Kemp turned it into a personal highlight show.

Not only did Kemp score a career-high 35 points, but he also passed Alex Boyd for third place on the all-time scoring list and then helped the Wolf Pack withstand a late Utah State rally to lead Nevada to an 85-80 win before a crowd of 8,454 at Lawlor Events Center.

Nevada, which has won three straight and six of its last seven, improved to 8-3 in Western Athletic Conference play and 16-8 overall. Utah State dropped to 8-2 and 18-7, respectively.

Kemp is all about wins first and personal achievement second, so it was extra special that he was able to win the game and achieve another milestone in his tremendous career. He passed Boyd when he converted a three-point play with 7 minutes, 50 seconds to go in the first half. Kemp now has 1,757 career points.

"It's a great accolade," Kemp said. "I heard [Boyd] was a great player, but I never got a chance to see him play. I'm just happy we got the win."

As he has done all season, Nevada coach Mark Fox was full of praise for his star player and the way his team played, especially the 24 assists compared to just four turnovers...

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