The Nevada Wolf Pack upset No. 6 Kansas, 75-61, Sunday night in the championship game of the Wolf Pack Holiday Classic in Reno, Nev.
The Jayhawks, who drop to 6-2 for the year, struggled throughout the first half with shooting. But KU came back in the second half to narrow a 20-point gap to 7 points (68-61) with under three minutes left. However, the Wolf Pack hung on and held off the Jayhawks, stretching the lead to 14 by the buzzer.
The Wolf Pack’s Kirk Snyder carried Nevada, finishing with 29 points.
Both Kansas and Nevada shot 40 perecent of their field goals — but the Jayhawks were miserable from the three-point line, hitting only 16 percent. Nevada had 5 of 13 from the three-point line for 38 percent.
Keith Langford and Aaron Miles both scored 11 points for KU, with Wayne Simien getting 10 points.
For game, KU hit 23 of 57 field goals, 3 of 18 three-pointers and 12 of 18 field goals.
In the first half, Nevada lead 40-20, pretty much just out-hustling the Jayhawks. The struggling Jayhawks hit only 26 percent of field goals and couldn’t find the net from three-point range.
In the first half, the Jayhawks were 6-23 in field goals and 0-7 for three-pointers and 8-11 from the free throw line. Nevada is shooting 45 percent, hitting 13-29 in field goals and 3-7 for three-pointers and 5-6 of free throws.
Langford, who averages 16 points per game, had only 4 points in the first half, getting on the board for the first time with just under 6 minutes left in the first stanza.
In the early going, Nevada scored first on a layup, then, after an officials’ problem with the shot clock, quickly went up 7-0 after hitting a three-pointer and the Wolf Pack’s Kirk Snyder put up a reverse dunk.
KU finally got on the board with a jumper from Simien, but then Nevada scored again, putting then in front 9-2 with 16:20 left.
On Saturday night, Kansas, which wore crimson uniforms for the first time since 1986, overpowered the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 72-52, to move on to Sunday’s final round.
Host Nevada (4-3), blew out Alabama State 70-43 Saturday night in first-round action.
Online editor’s note: All stats listed are unofficial
See the photos: KU-Nevada
Get the stats: KU-Nevada box scores