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Fazekas, No. 11 Nevada romp at Idaho
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press Writer
Feb 23, 2007 - 12:48:21 AM

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MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -- Nevada felt right at home in Idaho's ancient Memorial Gym.

The 11th-ranked Wolf Pack shot 62 percent from the field and a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line to beat Idaho 84-68 on Thursday night and win its eighth game in a row and 18th of the past 19.

"We came out with a lot of intensity and buried them in the beginning," said senior Nick Fazekas, who scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Nevada (25-2, 12-1 Western Athletic Conference).

Nevada has the best winning percentage in the nation and won at least 25 games for the fourth straight year.

The game was played in the 1,500-seat, 78-year-old Memorial Gym because Idaho's normal home floor in the Kibbie Dome was being used Thursday for the annual Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. The brick gym has an old-school feel with spectators sitting on balconies right above the court.

"It reminded me of `Hoosiers' a little bit," said Ramon Sessions, who had 15 points for Nevada. Marcelus Kemp added 14 and Kyle Shiloh 12 for the Wolf Pack.

Nevada jumped to a 16-2 lead and stretched that to 50-31 at halftime, thanks largely to poor shooting by Idaho. The teams traded baskets in the second half, with Idaho never getting closer than 13 points.

Keoni Watson led last-place Idaho (3-24, 1-13) with 27 points.

"We shot the ball well," said Fazekas, after the Wolf Pack posted season highs in field goal and free throw percentages. Fazekas made 7-of-9 from the field and all 7 of his free throws. He now has 17 double-doubles this season and 58 in his career.

With 2,327 points in his career, Fazekas moved past Fennis Dembo of Wyoming and Michael Smith of Brigham Young into third place in career scoring in the WAC. Keith Van Horn of Utah (2,542) and Danny Ainge of BYU (2,467) are ahead of him.

Idaho lost its 10th straight, continuing one of the worst seasons in team history. But first-year coach George Pfeifer was pleased that his team outscored the Wolf Pack 37-34 in the second half.

"To play these guys you have to shoot lights out," Pfeifer said. The Vandals were well short of that, making just 23-of-62 shots for 37 percent in the game. They shot better from 3-point range, making 10-of-26 for 38 percent.

Watson, a senior playing his final home game, hit 5-of-9 3-pointers and 9-of-18 overall. Trevor Morris added 14 points and David Jackson 13 for the Vandals.

"We don't have very much margin of error," Pfeiffer said. "There is a reason they (Nevada) are ranked where they are."

After trailing 50-31 at halftime, Idaho opened the second half with a 9-2 run to cut Nevada's lead to 52-40. But Nevada rebuilt a 60-43 lead and the Vandals never threatened again.

"I was not pleased with our defense in the second half," said Nevada coach Mark Fox.

In the first half, Idaho missed its first nine shots and did not make a field goal until Morris scored on a goaltending call with 14:20 left. By then they were down 16-4.

Idaho closed to 27-17 on Morris' 3-pointer, but it was the closest they would get the rest of the game.

Nevada scored the final three baskets of the first, with Fazekas stealing a pass and running the length of the floor for a layup that produced the Wolf Pack's 50-31 lead at halftime. Fazekas had 15 points and 9 rebounds in the first. Idaho had only 9 rebounds as a team in the first and was outrebounded 38-24 in the game.


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