Nevada Seeks Historic Win at San Diego State This Saturday

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Nevada men’s basketball team is poised to possibly make history this Saturday at San Diego State’s Viejas Arena, the last Mountain West road venue where the Wolf Pack has yet to secure a win since joining the league in 2012.

With a current season record of 16-14 and an 8-11 mark in Mountain West play, Nevada has struggled on the road this season. The team faces a critical opportunity as it attempts to end a 0-12 road streak at SDSU where they have not secured a victory in any Mountain West games or tournaments played outside of their home arena since 2012.

“We’ve come close at Viejas before, but we need to break through this barrier,” said head coach Steve Alford, who holds a 2-10 record against the Aztecs since taking over at Nevada.

The Nevada-San Diego State rivalry has been marked by tightly contested games and significant moments. In their first Mountain West matchup at Viejas in 2013, the Aztecs outscored the Wolf Pack and showcased their offensive prowess with 58.2 percent shooting. Despite a courageous performance from Malik Story, who scored 33 points that game, the Wolf Pack fell short.

Throughout their history at Viejas Arena, Nevada has encountered a series of narrow defeats, including a heartbreaking 69-67 loss in January 2021, where they fell victim to a last-second shot by the Aztecs. “We’ve had our chances, and it’s frustrating,” Alford added. “Saturday will be another chance to rewrite that narrative.”

Statistics indicate that the Wolf Pack has had positive moments at home, going 5-6 against the Aztecs in Lawlor Events Center, suggesting that performance correlates strongly with the home-court advantage dynamic. The corresponding loss of 69-50 earlier this season on January 25 has fueled their desire to even the score.

As they prepare for their final game of the regular season, the stakes are not only personal but pivotal for both teams. San Diego State, currently 20-8 with a 13-6 conference mark, finds itself on the NCAA Tournament bubble and requires a win to solidify its case for postseason play.

“This game is crucial for us,” said San Diego State’s head coach Brian Dutcher. “We want to play well at home, and Nevada always brings their best against us.”

As the Wolf Pack will take the court at Viejas Arena for the first time in 9,616 days with the hope of snapping their streak, both teams will look to maximize their chances for postseason success. The match-up is slated to tip-off at 2 p.m. PST this Saturday, and anticipation grows as both fan bases prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions.