GAME NOTES: Following two straight wins, the Nevada Wolf Pack will begin Mountain West Conference play when they host the Air Force Falcons on Saturday afternoon at the Lawlor Events Center.

In their first conference game of the season, the Falcons fell at San Diego State, 53-49, on New Year's Eve. Air Force has now lost two of its last three games and holds a record of 7-5 on the season overall.

After losing eight straight games, the Wolf Pack defeated Marshall on Dec. 22 and then knocked off the Northwest Christian Beacons on Sunday by a score of 81-67. Nevada, which won its first two games of the season, had an eight- game losing streak before the two most recent victories. The team now holds a record of 4-8.

This is just the fifth meeting between these two schools on the hardwood, with the Wolf Pack leading the series 3-1. Last season, the teams faced off twice in February, and Nevada won both meetings by double digits (69-56 OT, 75-56).

Max Yon (15 points) and Kamryn Williams (11 points, six rebounds, four steals) led Air Force in scoring against San Diego State on Wednesday. Marek Olesinski pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss. The Falcons shot just 36.4 percent from the field in the opening period and were down 33-19 going into halftime. But Air Force rallied in the second, as it connected on 52.4 percent of its field goal attempts and held the Aztecs to a shooting percentage of .320 in the final period. Yet the Falcons fell short and lost their first conference game this season. Air Force didn't help its cause any by turning the ball over 17 times and going just 1-of-11 from 3-point distance.

Yon is leading the Falcons in scoring this season with 14.8 ppg, the seventh best average in the Mountain West Conference. Williams is the top rebounder for Air Force with 6.0 rpg, the ninth best average in the Mountain West. The Falcons currently average 68.9 ppg (4th in the MWC), and convert 49.2 percent of their field goal attempts (2nd in the MWC), including 38.2 percent of their 3-point attempts (2nd in the MWC). Air Force also averages the most assists per game in the Mountain West (15.9 ppg), and has the fourth best rebounding margin (+3.5) in the conference. Defensively, the Falcons are holding opponents to 59.8 ppg, and a field goal percentage of 39.7.

D.J. Fenner led the Wolf Pack in scoring with 18 points in their win over Northwest Christian. AJ West (14 points, seven rebounds), Michael Perez (13 points and six rebounds), Tyron Criswell (11 points) and Robyn Missa (nine rebounds) all contributed to the victory. Nevada shot well in the win, as it connected on 48.1 percent of its field goal tries. On the defensive end, the Wolf Pack limited the Beacons to a 37.1 shooting percentage. Nevada also out- rebounded Northwest Christian 46-29, and had more fast break points (20-7).

Fenner (12.1 ppg), West (10.8 ppg), and Marqueze Coleman (10.3 ppg) lead the Wolf Pack in scoring this season, with Fenner and West currently in the top-20 for individual scoring in the Mountain West. West is also the team's leading rebounder with 8.6 rpg, the second best average for rebounding in the MWC. Nevada is managing just 62.6 ppg and only has a shooting percentage of 38.9 this season. Both averages currently rank second to last in the MWC for their respective categories. The Wolf Pack do however limit opponents to a shooting percentage of just 37.4, which includes a 3-point field goal percentage of 30.4. Nevada is second in the MWC in the rebounding margin (+4.4), but currently ranks last in the MWC in turnover margin (-3.33), and assists per game (9.3).

Although Nevada may stay in the game against Air Force by playing good defense, the Wolf Pack won't be able to produce enough points to keep pace with the Falcons.