Boxscore

RENO, Nev. -- The hottest team and the top team in the Western Athletic Conference collide Saturday as Nevada plays host to Louisiana Tech in a 9:05 p.m. contest at the Lawlor Events Center.

Nevada stands atop the WAC at 15-5 overall and 8-2 in conference play while Tech rides a five-game win streak into the contest with a record of 11-8 and 6-4.

The two WAC schools closest to Louisiana Tech's win streak are Hawaii and San Jose State with two consecutive wins each.

Tech is 5-2 in its last seven games with those two losses coming by a combined three points. Nevada defeated Tech 64-56 on Jan. 6 in Ruston, La., just before the Bulldogs began to heat up over the past seven games.

"We've been playing pretty good basketball recently and hopefully Nevada will see a different Louisiana Tech team than the one they played in January," Tech coach Keith Richard said. "We've made some progress in the conference standings and Nevada being on top of the league makes this a big game."

Sophomore forward Paul Millsap poured in 28 points while adding 12 rebounds and three blocked shots in Tech's 79-72 at Fresno State last Thursday and leads the Bulldogs with 19.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest.

Four of Tech's five starters are scoring in double figures with senior guard Donell Allick hitting for 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest while senior guard Corey Dean is adding 10.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Senior forward Wayne Powell rounds out Tech's double-digit scorers with 10.4 ppg while adding 6.4 rpg.

Tech's other starter, junior point guard Daevon Haskins, is averaging 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game but has played a crucial role during Tech's win streak and leads the team with 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

"We've been winning because of balanced scoring and tight defense," Richard said. "We've put together some solid efforts in recent games but we'll probably need our best effort of the season to beat Nevada on its home court."

Sophomore forward Nick Fazekas leads the Wolf Pack with 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and set the pace in Nevada's earlier win this season with 21 points and 18 rebounds.

Kevinn Pinkney is Nevada's only other player scoring in double figures with 13.5 ppg while adding 7.6 rpg.

Nevada leads Louisiana Tech 5-3 in a series which began when the Bulldogs joined the WAC during the 2001-02 season. Nevada has outscored Tech 615-572, so the Wolf Pack is averaging an 76.9 - 71.5 win over the Bulldogs.

The game will be broadcast live on KXKZ-FM 107.5 with the pregame show beginning around 8:30 p.m., or immediately following the postgame show of the earlier Nevada at Lady Techsters game in Ruston.