For a team searching for a spark, sometimes all it takes is one game where everything finally falls back into place. On Friday afternoon under the soft desert lights of the Acrisure Holiday Classic, Nevada looked like a team rediscovering itself, pulling away in the second half to beat San Francisco 81–65. From the opening tip, the Wolf Pack played like a group tired of close calls and missed chances.
Photo Cred: Reno Gazette Journal
But the Dons weren’t about to make anything easy. The first ten minutes felt like two boxers trading jabs — Corey Camper Jr. slicing through the lane for floaters, San Francisco responding with quick transition threes, neither side willing to blink. When freshman Kaleb Lowery buried a corner three to tie the game at 14, the bench erupted, and for the first time in several outings, Nevada looked energized.
Still, the Dons stayed within striking distance. Every time Nevada built a bit of momentum, San Francisco slowed the pace, attacked the rim, or forced the Pack into long, deliberate possessions. At halftime, Nevada held a slim 38–37 lead — a calm but restless mood, the kind of locker room where everyone knows they’re capable of more.
Nevada opened the second half with a defensive edge that instantly shifted the tone. Suddenly passing lanes felt tighter, rotations sharper. The Pack forced turnovers, secured long rebounds, and pushed the ball ahead before the Dons could get set. Camper Jr. orchestrated everything — calling out switches, feeding shooters, and carving up defenders with a patience that made the offense click.
Photo Cred: Nevada
When the lead finally stretched into double digits, the change in energy was unmistakable. What had been a grind turned into a rhythm. Ethan Croley delivered the exclamation point — an offensive rebound, a spin, a soft finish, and the foul. His and-one pushed the lead to 20 and sent the Nevada section into a full roar. Croley kept going, ripping down loose balls as if each one were personal, fueling the Pack’s most confident stretch of basketball in weeks.
The final minutes carried as much relief as celebration. Shots kept falling, the defensive pressure stayed steady, and Nevada controlled the tempo until the buzzer sounded. The players met at midcourt smiling — not arrogantly, but with the quiet satisfaction that comes from playing the way they always believed they could. Nevada didn’t just win. They found a version of themselves they’ve been chasing: a team that defends with urgency, moves the ball with purpose, and trusts its depth.
