It started as a good day for Wolf Pack fans after the football program secured a commanding win in Reno. For basketball, head coach Steve Alford and his team were hoping to make it two Wolf Pack victories on the road against a tough opponent in Santa Clara.
However, the Broncos came out firing and stayed hot offensively throughout the game. Santa Clara never relinquished the lead, ultimately winning 98-83 to hand Nevada its first loss of the season.
### Scoring Summary
**1st Half:** Nevada 34, Santa Clara 48
**2nd Half:** Nevada 49, Santa Clara 50
**Final:** Nevada 83, Santa Clara 98
### Offense
Nevada quickly fell behind 9-2 in the opening minutes. Corey Camper Jr. finally got Nevada on the board with a midrange jumper, quickly followed by a three-point shot that narrowed the gap to 9-5. Despite this effort, Nevada’s offense struggled to keep pace in the first half.
The Wolf Pack made a small run after the seven-minute mark, powered by Camper Jr., who led the first half with 14 points on 5-9 shooting. Nevada shot 44 percent from the field in the first half but managed only three three-pointers in eight attempts.
Turnovers became a major problem. After committing just four turnovers in the overtime win over SIU last week, Nevada had nine turnovers in the first half alone and finished the night with 12.
The second half was similarly challenging, with Nevada trailing by as much as 22 points. The team improved its shooting somewhat but still struggled to close the gap. Despite a late push that cut the deficit to 11 points, turnovers once again hurt the Wolf Pack. It often felt like every time Nevada forced a quick stop, the ball was surrendered immediately on the next possession.
Corey Camper Jr. led Nevada with 21 points on 7-15 shooting, followed closely by Tayshawn Comer, who scored 19 points on an efficient 7-9 shooting performance. Nevada finished shooting 26-58 from the field (45 percent) and 7-14 from beyond the arc (50 percent).
### Defense
Nevada’s defense had a difficult time containing Santa Clara, especially guard Christian Hammond. Hammond poured in 20 points in the first half on an impressive 8-10 shooting, finishing the game with 27 points.
The Broncos got off to a fast start with a 15-3 run to open the game and maintained their momentum throughout. Santa Clara shot 58 percent from the field in the first half and ended the game shooting 62 percent overall.
Although Santa Clara committed 11 turnovers on the night (eight in the first half), they capitalized on their opportunities. The Broncos came down the floor quickly, took high-quality shots, and dominated the boards.
Playing at an extremely fast pace, Santa Clara appeared to hit just about everything they threw up. They also excelled from deep, shooting 48 percent from three-point range. Three Broncos players reached double figures in scoring, including two who scored over 20 points: Christian Hammond with 27 and Bukky Oboye with 22.
### What’s Next
Nevada will look to bounce back next week as it returns home for its fourth home game of the season to host UC Davis. The Aggies recently defeated Sacramento State, improving their record to 3-1 this year.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Lawlor Events Center. Fans can expect an intense matchup as the Wolf Pack aims to rebound and regain momentum on their home court.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nevada-hit-first-loss-dropping-021043786.html