Pacific gets 19 points from Willard, closes with 7-0 run to defeat Nevada 61-58

Late run gives Pacific 61-58 win over Nevada

STOCKTON, Calif. — Sam Willard had 19 points and seven rebounds Saturday night to lead Pacific to a 61-58 victory over Nevada.

Willard, who matched his career-high point total, scored inside with 59 seconds remaining to break the game’s ninth tie as Pacific (6-1) finished with a 7-0 run.

Demetrece Young began the game-ending spurt with a 3-pointer in transition after Nevada had taken its final lead on Luke Babbitt’s bank shot with 2:42 remaining.

Pacific’s Terrell Smith missed the second of two free throws with 11 seconds to play, giving Nevada a chance to send the game into overtime. But after a Nevada time-out, Joe Ford blocked Armon Johnson’s 3-point attempt from 22 feet at the buzzer.

Johnson led the Wolf Pack (2-4) with 18 points. Babbitt had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Nevada.