Nevada Falls to Utah State in Mountain West Semifinals

2026 Tournament ends for Wolf Pack with 79-66 loss

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:37am

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The Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball team saw its run in the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship end Friday with a 79-66 loss to top-seeded Utah State in the semifinal round. Nevada's shooting struggles, including 41% from the field and 26% from three-point range, proved to be a key factor in the defeat.

Why it matters

The loss ends Nevada's hopes of winning the Mountain West tournament and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team will now await word on potential postseason play, with their performance in this game raising questions about their overall consistency and ability to compete against top conference opponents.

The details

Despite the shooting struggles, Nevada managed to keep the game competitive for stretches, particularly in the first half. Vaughn Weems led the Wolf Pack in both scoring and rebounding, tying his career high with 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Utah State established control early, building a 39-32 halftime lead, and continued to dictate the pace in the second half, extending their advantage to as many as 20 points.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • Nevada and Utah State met in the semifinal round of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship.

The players

Vaughn Weems

Led Nevada in scoring and rebounding, tying his career high with 17 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Chuck Bailey III

Contributed 10 points for Nevada.

Adlan Elamin

Scored the first points of the game for Utah State.

Kaleb Lowery

Recorded 2 steals for Nevada.

Tayshawn Comer

Recorded 2 steals for Utah State.

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What’s next

The Nevada Wolf Pack will now await word on potential postseason play following their loss in the Mountain West semifinals.

The takeaway

This game highlights the importance of consistent shooting and the ability to compete against top conference opponents for the Nevada Wolf Pack. The team's performance raises questions about their overall competitiveness and ability to make a deep postseason run, should they receive an invitation.