Nevada defeats Portland State 77-71 as Elijah Price paces Wolf Pack
Nevada men’s basketball survived an absolute perimeter drought by attacking the basket and converting 39 free throws, defeating Portland State 77-71 in an exhibition finale on Sunday afternoon at Lawlor Events Center in Reno. Elijah Price paced the Wolf Pack with 21 points and five rebounds, carrying the team through a rough shooting performance from deep as the regular season approaches.
The Wolf Pack finished the contest without a single made three-pointer, going 0-for-12 from beyond the arc. Nevada compensated for the long-range struggles by drawing heavy contact, earning 55 free-throw attempts and hitting 39 of them—marking the program’s highest free-throw attempt total in a game since 2003.
Trailing at Halftime After Defensive Lapses
Portland State controlled the tempo early on Sunday. The Vikings shot over 51 percent from the field in the first half, which included sinking 6-of-12 attempts from three-point range. That offensive efficiency staked Portland State to a 46-43 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
Nevada’s defense adjusted significantly after the break. The Wolf Pack clamped down in the second half, holding the Vikings to under 21 percent shooting from the field as Portland State managed only 8 field goals on 39 attempts over the final twenty minutes.
Thirteen Nevada Players Score in Win over Portland State
Thirteen different players scored for Nevada during the hard-fought victory. Alongside Price’s 21 points, Vaughn Weems contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. Peyton White added seven points and four boards, while Styles Phipps chipped in five points and three assists to help anchor the backcourt rotation.
Portland State relied heavily on Yaroslav Nikonov, who led the Vikings with 23 points and five rebounds. Koren Johnson added 14 points, and Luke Kearney chipped in 12 points behind four three-pointers.
Preparing for the Regular Season Opener
Sunday’s matinee concluded the two-game exhibition slate for Nevada. The team now turns its attention to the official start of the 2026-27 regular season.
Nevada hosts Robert Morris on Monday, November 2, at Lawlor Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the matchup airing on MW+.