Reno, Nev. • Jordan Caroline scored 15 points and No. 6 Nevada matched a school record with its 14th straight victory to begin the season, beating Utah State 72-49 on Wednesday night.
Cody Martin and Tre’Shawn Thurman had 14 points apiece in the Mountain West Conference opener for the Wolf Pack (14-0, 1-0), one of four undefeated teams in the nation.
Sam Merrill led Utah State with 16 points.
Nevada held the Aggies (10-4, 0-1) to 26 percent from the floor. They entered averaging 81 points per game on 48 percent shooting.
Nevada and Utah State compiled the two best records among Mountain West teams in non-conference play, but this one was no contest.
Utah State held the sixth-biggest rebound differential in the country coming into the game, but the Aggies won only 44-43 on the boards. Utah State committed 20 turnovers that turned into 23 points for the Wolf Pack.
Nevada had a 30-14 edge in the paint.
After a 10-2 run pulled the Aggies to 29-25 with 1:45 left in the first half, Nevada answered with a 6-0 spurt for a 35-25 lead at the break.
Big picture
Utah State: After winning 10 of their first 13 games with a 16.5 point differential (best in the MWC), Utah State dropped its league opener in a hostile environment against one of the nation’s top teams.
Nevada: Also won its first 14 games in 1951-52 as a member of the Far Western Conference.
Up next
Utah State: Returns home to play Air Force on Saturday.
Nevada: Faces one of its biggest conference tests Saturday at New Mexico.
No. 6 NEVADA 72, UTAH ST. 49
UTAH ST. (10-4)
Taylor 0-8 1-2 1, Queta 5-9 0-2 10, Miller 2-5 4-4 10, Merrill 6-14 3-3 16, Ainge 0-1 0-0 0, D.Brown 2-5 0-0 4, Fakira 0-4 0-0 0, Bean 1-4 2-2 4, A.Porter 0-3 1-2 1, Brito 1-7 0-2 3, T.Knight 0-2 0-0 0, A.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-62 11-17 49.
NEVADA (14-0)
Ca.Martin 3-8 0-0 7, Thurman 5-11 2-2 14, T.Porter 3-6 2-4 8, Co.Martin 6-13 2-2 14, Caroline 4-10 5-6 15, J.Brown 0-3 0-0 0, Henson 1-2 2-2 4, Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0, J.Johnson 2-6 4-4 10, Zouzoua 0-2 0-0 0, Wurm 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 17-20 72.
Halftime—Nevada 35-25. 3-Point Goals—Utah St. 4-23 (Miller 2-4, Brito 1-4, Merrill 1-5, Ainge 0-1, D.Brown 0-2, A.Porter 0-2, Taylor 0-5), Nevada 7-28 (Caroline 2-4, J.Johnson 2-6, Thurman 2-7, Ca.Martin 1-4, Henson 0-1, T.Porter 0-1, Zouzoua 0-2, Co.Martin 0-3). Fouled Out—Ca.Martin. Rebounds—Utah St. 42 (Queta 11), Nevada 38 (Caroline 11). Assists—Utah St. 8 (A.Porter 3), Nevada 17 (Caroline 7). Total Fouls—Utah St. 17, Nevada 16.