The University of San Francisco men's basketball team is finally back in the Pacific time zone but they will remain on the road as the Dons travel to Reno, Nev., to take on the Wolf Pack on Wednesday night at the Lawlor Events Center. The game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Fans can also tune in to Pat Olson who will have the call on KNBR 1050-AM, the home of USF Dons basketball.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Dec. 2 – 6:00 p.m.
Opponent: Nevada Wolf Pack (3-0, 0-0 Mountain West)
Site: Lawlor Events Center  
Stream:  Mountain West Network
Talent: John Ramey (play-by-play)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play)
Live Stats: USFDons.com


USF AT A GLANCE
• USF enters Wednesday's game with a 2-2 record following the Dons' 84-71 loss to Rhode Island in their final game of the Mohegan Sun "Bubbleville." The Dons played four games in five days in Uncasville, Conn., prior to the loss at the hands of the Rams, the Dons defeated No. 4 Virginia 61-60. Wednesdays' game against the Wolf Pack will be the Dons first "true" road contest of the season.  USF was 7-6 on the road in head coach Todd Golden's first year as head coach.
 
• USF enters this week averaging 69.8 points per game, while shooting .388 from the field.  Their opponents are averaging 72.0 ppg and shooting .443 from the field. On the glass, the Dons are -4.5 in rebound margin, averaging 34.0 rebounds per contest, while their opponents grab 38.5.   
 
• Dons From Distance:  USF has hoisted up 127 attempts from beyond the arc (tops in the nation).  The Dons average 31.75 attempts from 3-point range this season (also tops in the nation).  They have connected on 42 (again leading the nation).  Against the fourth ranked Cavaliers USF shot a blistering .464% from 3-point range (13-for-28).  The Dons made more 3-point field goals (13) than the Cavaliers attempted (12).
 
• Hot Start for Bouyea:  The Dons' floor general is off to a tremendous start.  In three contests he is averaging 19.0 ppg, while shooting .519 percent from the field.  Twice this season he has scored 20 or more - in the loss against Rhode Island he came within one point of his career-high.  Head Coach Todd Golden said the only reason the Dons were even in the game was because of Bouyea's play.
 
• Dons Backcourt: The University of San Francisco is known for its famed front court play - players like Bill Russell, Ollie Johnson, and Bill Cartwright were the catalyst to deep NCAA tournament runs in the past - head coach Todd Golden is hoping that the Dons' very deep backcourt will lead USF back to the Big Dance.  The trio of Bouyea, Khalil Shabazz and newcomer Damari Milstead have combined to score 162 points - they have accounted for 58 percent of the Dons' offense through three games. 
 
• There's a First Time For Everything: USF entered this year 15-0 under Golden when tallying more field goals than their opponent.  They are now 15-2 in that metric.  In both losses this season USF finished with more field goals than their opponent.  Against Rhode Island on Sunday the Dons finished with 25 to the Rams 23.  USF is averaging 24.75 field goals per game while their opponents are averaging 22.5 field goals per game.
 
Double-Double Dima: Junior forward Dzmitry Ryuny recorded his second career double-double in the loss to the Rams on Sunday scoring 19 and grabbing 10 boards.  Through games played through 11/29 Ryuny ranks third in the nation in double-doubles - he trails Illinois Kofi Cockburn by one.  The Dons had 13 as a team last year, with Jimbo Lull leading the squad with six.
 
• On the Glass: Through three contests the Dons are -4.5 in rebound margin.  The Dons outrebounded Rhode Island 42-40 - the first game this season USF finished plus in the rebound margin The Dons rank 209th in defensive rebounds per game (22.5) but 171st in total rebounds per game at 34.0. The Dons are 97th in the country (out of 245) in offensive rebounds per game with 11.5.
 
• Breakout Candidates: With the departure of longtime starters Charles Minlend, Jimbo Lull, and Jordan Ratinho the Dons have some excellent candidates for a breakout season.  Senior Taavi Jurkatamm looks to get a lot more time at the post.  Junior Dzmitry Ryuny is third on the team with 50 points while shooting .432 from the field. Jurkatamm matched his career-high in points in the win over the Cavaliers and hit a pair of 3-point field goals late in the win.
 
Series
Wednesday will be the 80th time these former conference rivals have laced it up against each other.  All-time the Wolf Pack own a 47-32 advantage in a series that dates back all the way to 1914.  On the road the Dons own a 19-23 record against Nevada, at the Lawlor Events Center the Dons are 2-5 all-time.  The last time USF played at Nevada was on Dec. 15, 2012 with the Dons falling to the Wolf Pack 59-51.  The last time USF played Nevada came at the Orleans Arena on Dec. 23, 2017 with USF winning 66-64.
 
About the Wolf Pack
Nevada is entering the second season of the Steve Alford era.  Last season, UNR went 19-12 in his first season in Reno finishing tied for second in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack were picked to finish sixth in the conference standings this year behind favored San Diego State, Utah State, UNLV, Boise State and Colorado State.  Nevada returns just one starter from last year's team, but it hasn't made a different as the Wolf Pack have won by an average margin of 9.7 points through three contests.  The 3-0 Wolf Pack defeated defeated Pacific 70-58 in their season debut at the Lawlor Events Center.  Leading the team in scoring is Grant Sherfield who is averaging 16.7 ppg through three contests. As a team, UNR is shooting .429 from the field, while their opponents are shooting .308.  From beyond the arc thee Wolf Pack are shooting .381 (26-for-63).  On the glass, UNR is led by Zane Meeks 7.3 rebounds per contest, Nevada is plus 7.7 in rebound margin averaging 44.7 rebounds per game. 
 
Last Time Out Versus Nevada
Five players scored in double figures for the Dons, but no shot was bigger than Jordan Ratinho's 3-point field goal with 6.4 seconds as the Dons defeated Nevada 66-64 in the finale of the Continental Tires Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena. Nevada took a 64-61 lead with a minute left, in a contest that featured eight tie scores and 10 lead changes.  Chase Foster scored on an acrobatic layup to pull the Dons within a point with 46 seconds.  USF got a crucial stop, coming up with a loose ball on the far side of the court and raced down the floor with less than 15 seconds when Ratinho drained a three in front of the Dons bench with 6.4 ticks on the clock. The defense still needed one more crucial stop, as UNR's Lindsey Drew missed a potential tying layup at the buzzer.