Nevada Dominates Air Force in Mountain West Tournament

Wolf Pack cruise to 80-45 victory, setting up quarterfinal matchup with GCU

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:21am

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The Nevada Wolf Pack thoroughly dominated the Air Force Falcons in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament, winning 80-45. Nevada jumped out to a 39-10 halftime lead and never looked back, with 12 different players scoring in the game. The win sets up a quarterfinal matchup for Nevada against the No. 4 seed GCU on March 12.

Why it matters

This decisive victory gives Nevada a major confidence boost heading into the later rounds of the tournament. The Wolf Pack were able to thoroughly dismantle an Air Force team they had just faced a week earlier, showcasing their depth and defensive prowess. As the fifth seed, Nevada is looking to make a deep run and potentially earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

The details

Nevada opened the game on a 10-0 run and never looked back, leading 39-10 at halftime. The Wolf Pack shot 54% from the field in the first half compared to just 17% for Air Force. Nevada's defense was stifling, holding the Falcons scoreless for over 8 minutes during one stretch. In the second half, Nevada continued to pull away, leading by as much as 50 points at one point. Corey Camper Jr. led the Wolf Pack with 11 points, while Air Force's Kam Sanders scored a team-high 12 points in the loss.

  • The game was played on March 11, 2026.
  • Nevada and Air Force had faced each other just a week earlier in the regular season finale.

The players

Kaleb Lowery

A Nevada player who scored the first points of the game with a layup.

Vaughn Weems

A Nevada player who hit two 3-pointers in the first half to help the Wolf Pack build an early lead.

Tayshawn Comer

A Nevada player who also hit a 3-pointer in the first half as part of the Wolf Pack's dominant start.

Kam Sanders

An Air Force player who scored a team-high 12 points in the loss.

Corey Camper Jr.

The leading scorer for Nevada with 11 points on 3-7 shooting.

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What they’re saying

“I thought the defense was beyond outstanding. They listened to the scouting report well, we made some minor adjustments and they just executed well.”

— Steve Alford, Head Coach, Nevada

“Definitely a positive impact when everyone gets involved. It's a team game, so when we move the ball and share it at a high level and everybody eats, it's fun to play.”

— Elijah Price, Nevada Player

What’s next

Nevada will face the No. 4 seed GCU on March 12 in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament. The Wolf Pack defeated GCU 66-60 in overtime earlier this season.

The takeaway

This dominant win showcases Nevada's depth, defensive intensity, and ability to make quick adjustments. The Wolf Pack appear primed for a deep tournament run, and this victory over a conference foe will only boost their confidence heading into the later rounds.