Wolf Pack hits stride at home

UNR's time in the practice gym apparently has been put to good use.

The Wolf Pack has won three straight during an extended stay at Lawlor Events Center since starting the season with four of six games on the road.

UNR (5-4) has been home since Dec. 2, giving it time to work on its shortcomings, such as free-throw shooting.

The Wolf Pack shot 78 percent (21-for-27) from the foul line in the second half of its 86-74 victory over Central Florida on Sunday, improving its season percentage to 70.1. UNR was at 65 percent after six games.

"We've improved," coach Mark Fox said. "We have so many young faces, we're not as consistent as a group, but we're coming along. ... We responded with our free-throw shooting when Central Florida tried to make its run at us. It was a good sign."

UNR ends its four-game homestand Wednesday against Colorado State, which has lost three of four to fall to 5-5. The Wolf Pack then goes back on the road for games at Northern Iowa on Saturday and at No. 1 North Carolina on Dec. 27.

The team should be a little deeper by then with the addition of junior guard Lyndale Burleson. He sat out the fall semester because he was academically ineligible.

Fox said he hopes to get Burleson his first action at Northern Iowa.

"It definitely gives us a longer bench and makes us a little more of a complete team," Fox said.

Senior Demarshay Johnson, who redshirted last season, already has added to UNR's depth. The 6-foot-9-inch forward shot 5-for-5 Sunday, including three dunks. He is averaging 23.3 minutes per game and has scored 11 points in two of his last three games.

"He's been a little rusty," Fox said. "He needs to keep it simple -- defend, rebound and score when he gets the opportunity."

While Marcelus Kemp and JaVale McGee have been a constant 1-2 punch for the Wolf Pack, sophomore guard Brandon Fields has become a threat as well. He had 17 points in a 76-62 win over San Diego and scored 22 against Central Florida. Fields was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.