Nevada faced a heartbreaking 82-81 overtime loss against New Mexico in a nail-biting Mountain West Conference clash at The Pit in Albuquerque.
The game saw 18 lead changes and 18 ties, showcasing a fiercely competitive matchup. Despite a strong performance from Kobe Sanders and clutch contributions from Nick Davidson, Nevada fell short as a last-second basket from New Mexico sealed the game.
Nevada led 37-34 at halftime, powered by efficient shooting (51.9% from the field) and stellar three-point accuracy (54.5%). Nick Davidson led the scoring with 12 points, including four three-pointers.
Nevada’s defense forced turnovers and converted fast-break opportunities, but New Mexico’s success at the free-throw line (73.7%) kept the game close.
The second half was tightly contested, with New Mexico edging Nevada 36-33. Both teams exchanged leads multiple times, with Nevada struggling from the field (30.8%) and beyond the arc (25%).
Despite their shooting woes, Nevada stayed in the game with strong free-throw shooting (75%). New Mexico capitalized on second-chance points, giving them the slight edge heading into overtime.
Overtime featured intense back-and-forth action, with Kobe Sanders and Daniel Foster delivering key buckets. Nevada led late, but a turnover in the final seconds allowed New Mexico's Nelly Joseph to score the game-winning shot, handing Nevada a crushing defeat.
Nevada won the battle from the bench, outscoring New Mexico 17-13, with Justin McBride contributing a crucial 11 points.
New Mexico edged Nevada on the boards, grabbing 35 total rebounds to Nevada’s 32.
Kobe Sanders led all scorers with 21 points, while adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Nevada took better care of the ball, committing only 10 turnovers compared to New Mexico's 15.
Nevada will return on the road to play Fresno State on January 11th, 2025, in the Save Mart Center.
Nevada Athletics contributed to this report.
