Wolf Pack down Golden Grizzlies with historic rally

ANCHORAGE – Guard Marcus Marshall scored 21 of his 25 points after halftime and forward Cameron Oliver delivered 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists Wednesday to lead Nevada to a historic 82-78 comeback victory over Oakland in the first round of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Wolf Pack (4-1) also got 10 points and 10 rebounds from guard Jordan Caroline as they erased a 44-28 deficit, marking the largest halftime comeback in the 39-year history of the nation's oldest regular-season college basketball tournament.

The Golden Grizzlies (4-1) were led by 23 points and nine assists from guard Sherron Dorsey-Walker, but they were outshot 55 percent (11 of 20) to 25 percent (5 of 20) from three-point range.

Oakland scored the game's first nine points and took its largest lead at the half when Isaiah Brock slammed home a pass from Dorsey-Walker with 10 seconds on the clock.

Nevada trailed 47-31 early in the second half when Marshall knocked down a trey to start a 10-0 surge, and the Wolf Pack drew within 51-48 at the 13:53 mark. Oakland stretched back to a 58-50 lead before Nevada answered with eight straight points, and the teams were tied 69-69 with 4:51 showing.

That's when Marshall – a transfer from Missouri State – took over, delivering a go-ahead traditional three-point play, followed by another three-point basket. After Oakland sliced the deficit to 77-75 on two free throws by Martez Walker, Marshall drove and dished to Oliver for a back-breaking three-pointer with 1:19 left.

A three-pointer from Martez-Walker made it 82-78 before Marshall scored the game's final points from the free throw line.

Guard Lindsey Drew collected nine assists and just one turnover in 37 minutes to help the Wolf Pack advance to Friday's 5:30 p.m. semifinal game against Buffalo. That contest will be shown live nationally on CBS Sports Network. Meanwhile, Oakland will play host Alaska Anchorage in Friday's noon consolation semifinal.

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