The Cats earned a much-needed win against a capable opponent in the desert.
I didn't count the last 27 seconds because it was a free-throw shooting battle and the Cats held a 64-55 lead when Collins started subbing offense for defense.
That sort of scenario doesn't reflect overall performance and punishes the defensive substitute in this analysis.
Player | Minutes | NU Pts | UNLV Pts | Raw +/- | Player +/- | Net +/- |
Barnhizer | 39 | 64 | 53 | +11 | +8.05 | +10.25 |
Leach | 21 | 38 | 26 | +12 | +5.51 | +7.91 |
Nicholson | 29 | 48 | 43 | +5 | +5.38 | +6.38 |
Mullins | 18 | 28 | 27 | +1 | +2.31 | +2.51 |
Hunger | 10 | 16 | 12 | +4 | -1.48 | -0.68 |
Windham | 9 | 15 | 13 | +2 | -2.63 | -2.23 |
Smith | 3 | 0 | 8 | -8 | -0.65 | -2.25 |
Martinelli | 37 | 58 | 46 | +12 | -5.68 | -3.28 |
Ciaravino | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 | -2.95 | -3.95 |
Berry | 28 | 47 | 36 | +11 | -7.88 | -5.68 |
Brooks Barnhizer was the star of the game, with strong support from Jalen Leach and Matt Nicholson.
Leach was excellent in the minutes he was on the court, playing with foul trouble, making 3 of 3 from distance and 5 of 6 overall.
Nicholson's box score is frenetic with 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 for 10 from the foul line and zero turnovers.
Nick Martinelli turned the ball over 4 times, so he got dinged hard for that. Ty Berry went 0 for 5 and didn't put much in the box score.
Hidden within the numbers is the re-assuring fact that the starters (Nicholson/Martinelli/Barnhizer/Berry/Leach) went 31-18 against the Runnin Rebels in about 17 minutes.
The starting lineup has played together for the 4 games since Barnhizer returned. They struggled against Pepperdine, but have been very effective in the other 3 games.
31-18 against UNLV, 34-23 against Butler. 36-21 against Montana State.