Nevada Reno Shooters on Target, USD’s Aren’t; Toreros Lose by 19

Nevada Reno’s men’s basketball team is not particularly tall. Its lineup ranges from 6-feet-10 to 6-1.

It runs a full court press at times, but you wouldn’t describe the Wolfpack as quick.

Experience? Three underclassmen on the starting five, one senior on the team, and its leading scorer, Kevin Franklin (27-point average), is a sophomore.

No. These guys are shooters. From the free-throw line, from three-point range, from the hip--they do not miss often.

At least they didn’t Thursday night in a 88-69 drubbing of the University of San Diego.

UNR shot 53% (26 of 49) from the field, including 59% (10 of 17) from three-point range. It made 77% (26 of 34) from the line, including its first 15.

Meanwhile, the Toreros missed almost everything. They missed a breakaway dunk attempt late. They missed five shots on one possession, after which Franklin took the rebound, dribbled down and pumped in a three-pointer.

In all, USD missed 49 shots for a dismal 32% (23 of 72) from the field, including 18% (two of 11) from three-point range. Its free-throw shooting wasn’t bad--70% (21 of 30)--but hardly good enough to prevent the loss.

USD fell behind early and never caught up. After a pair of John Jerome free throws tied the score, 6-6, UNR scored the next 12 points. Franklin had a pair of three-point plays on USD fouls, Ric Herrin had two baskets, and Jon Baer a layup.

USD pulled to within 24-16 on baskets by Jerome (two), Kelvin Woods, Wayman Strickland and Anthony Thomas. But UNR was off again, eventually taking a 47-31 halftime lead.

UNR shot 55% (16 of 29) from the field in the half, including 67% (eight of 12) from three-point range. UNR did not miss a free throw in seven attempts.

“When you’ve got a 10-point lead, you can shoot three-pointers with a lot more ease and confidence,” USD Coach Hank Egan said.

Franklin, who led all scorers with 28 points, had 17 by halftime. Matt Williams added 18, Kevin Soares 14.

Jerome had 10 of his team-high 18 points in the first half. Anthony Thomas had 15, Craig Cottrell 11.

UNR controlled the boards, 19-13, in the first half. But USD, thanks in part to its many misses, held the second-half advantage, 34-23.

In a game of highlights for UNR, Williams and Soares teamed up for the play of the game with 14 minutes left. On an out-of-bounds play near the UNR bench, Soares lofted a pass to Williams, who played off a screen, went backdoor and made the alley-oop dunk.

The only backdoor USD was thinking about was an escape route out of its Sports Center, where the Toreros have dropped two games this week to Big Sky teams.

Talk before this eight-game home stand was of “getting well” after a rough five-game road swing left USD 2-5. The Toreros are now 3-7 and looking for answers.

UNR, which had not won a road game before Thursday, evened its record at 4-4.