Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page C1

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Sports SECTION Contact JOHANNA HUYBERS 775-327-6736 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014 RGJ.COMSP0RTS jhuybersrgj.com 0 USA TODAY SPORTS SUPER BOWL RETREAD COACHES PROVE SECOND CHANCES MATTER PAGE 6C Jackson's passion leads to first win in season debut By Jim Krajewski krajewskirgj Kirk Jackson figures he'll have an advantage when it comes to his career. The Nevada boxing club member wants to be a sports journalist, focusing on boxing, so what better way to go about it than by getting in the ring. Jackosn did just that Friday night at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, getting a win in his first college bout. He defeated Pedro Barrientes of the Air Force Academy in a 150-pound bout that looked too close to call from ringside. It was one of 14 bouts Friday, including two exhibitions.

Without the boxing mentality, getting in a fight seems like it would be a tough way to learn a profession. But Jackson is relishing the opportunity. "I want to cover boxing," Jackson said. "I figured (by boxing) I'd have more authenticity with what I'm saying if I do the sport." It's not just journalism driving him. He said he has been a boxing fan since Mike Tyson was in his glory days in the 1980s and '90s.

Jackson didn't appear to tire until the final few seconds. But he said that was not the case and he was exhausted. See BOXING, Page 5C Nevada's Kirk Jackson's head is spun as he is hit by Air Force's Pedro Barrientes during the Wolf Pack's home opener on Friday night at the Eldorado. Jackson won the bout by split decision, julie dawesrgj BENCH From left, Nevada's reserves, AN Fall, Marqueze Coleman, Lucas Stivrins and Ronnie Stevens have been a source of frustration when it comes to getting notable contributions off the bench in Mountain West Conference play, rgj usa today file Nevada's bench production The Nevada basketball team has gotten sporadic contributions from its bench. Here's a look at some of the key stats by the bench game by game.

NEVADA STRIVES FOR MORE EFFICIENT PRODUCTION FROM ITS RESERVES By Dan Hinxman dhinxi Field goals Free throws Rebounds Total points Minutes played Of note Pacific, 82-80 6-9 4-6 5 1 7 53 Coleman scores 12 Cal Poly, 60-58 1-6 0-0 5 2 35 Coleman starts; Evans DNP San Francisco, 92-90 7-12 2-7 1 7 1 7 52 Coleman starts; Evans comes off bench CS Bakersfield, 64-66 2-10 7-10 8 11 59 Coleman, Fenner combined 1-8 FG Chattanooga, 83-81 7-13 3-7 1 3 1 7 57 Stevens, Fenner combine for 9 rebs Morehead 63-58 3-9 3-3 6 9 74 Stevens plays 35 minutes off the bench UCLA, 105-84 8-16 8-11 13 2 5 83 Season highs in points, minutes for bench Missouri, 83-70 5-13 8-8 6 19 51 Stevens starts in place of Fall UC Davis, 87-81 (0T) 3-11 2-2 8 8 40 Coleman 6 4 rebs. Cal, 92-84 4-8 1-2 3 9 37 Omaha, 82-80 3-13 0-0 8 6 36 Coleman, Stevens DNP; Stivrins starts lona, 80-72 5-11 5-9 14 15 57 West, in his debut Fenner: 10 pts, 9 rebs. Long Beach 80-77 (0T) 2-4 0-1 7 4 38 West starts; Stivrins back to bench San Jose 62-50 2-4 2-2 4 6 33 Only two reserves play: Fenner Fall Wyoming, 61-58 1-1 0-0 2 2 23 Only two reserves play: Fenner Fall UNLV.W 74-71 2-6 4-4 6 8 51 Coleman returns Utah 62-54 3-9 1-4 4 7 36 Boise 74-65 4-10 1-4 2 1 0 41 3rd straight game only Coleman, Fall, Fenner play Fresno 96-86 (20T) 1-5 2-2 2 4 34 All 5 starters play at least 38 minuntes each Wyoming, 64-62 0-9 0-0 3 0 40 Worst production game of season Colorado 76-67 4-7 4-5 3 1 3 31 Best production since MWC play began When 6-foot-9 forward A.J. West was inserted into the starting lineup, the Nevada basketball team's starting five became more complete. It also started an odd trend.

Ever since that game, an 80-77 overtime loss to Long Beach State on Dec. 28, the production from the Wolf Pack bench has waned. That partly can be explained by multiple injuries. The team's top post player off of the bench, Ronnie Stevens hasn't played since Dec. 10 (surgery for stress fractures), and guard and sixth man Marqueze Coleman (eye surgery) also missed five games from Dec.

14 to Jan. 4. Nevada, which faces Air Force at 3:05 p.m. today at Lawlor Events Center, became a better team with West in the lineup 4-7 without him, 7-3 with him but began to rely more heavily on its starting five. See PACK, Page 3C STEPHEN REICHRGJ Source: RGJ research FRIDAY'S SCORES Fast pace buoys hot-handed Grizzlies Orlando 113, Milwaukee 102 Atlanta 125, Philadelphia 99 Memphis 94, Minnesota 90 Oklahoma City 120, Brooklyn 95 Dallas 107, Sacramento 103 Toronto 100, Denver 90 Charlotte 110, LA.

Lakers 100 Golden State 95, Utah 90 MORE INSIDE The Reno High boys avenged a loss to High Desert League rival Spanish Springs, plus full recaps of Friday's basketball games from around the region, 8C, and find more on RGJ.com. By Russ Gardner Special to the RGJ After the first half Friday night, it was still anybody's game. But Galena's Scott Geer-ling brought the Grizzlies down the floor and helped direct his team to a 59-46 victory over visiting Douglas in Division I boys basketball. Geerling was held to five points in the game but his contribution came in directing his team in swinging the ball to get open looks for the fast-paced offense. Constant passing helped spread the floor and opened up shot opportunities around the floor.

These opportunities allowed nine Grizzlies to score. Galena's Zach Lessinger led his team with 12 points. Most of his scoring came in the paint as he battled a physical Douglas Detroit 4, Washington 3 (SO) N.Y. Rangers 4, N.Y. Islanders 1 Carolina 3, St.

Louis 1 Nashville 3, New Jersey 2 (OT) Winnipeg 4, Vancouver 3 See the scoreboard page on 4C for all of Friday's scores. INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS SECTION WOLF PACK FOOTBALL Running back Chris Solomon was dismissed from the team after being arrested earlier this month on domestic battery. Solomon was a redshirt freshman last season in a three-pronged run attack. 5C tect the ball. "We have really bonded as a team and are trusting each other.

It is easy to play better as a team when you have trust," McClellan said. "They are a good team. We spent a lot of time preparing to play them and were fortunate to execute against them." Douglas substituted liberally in the first half. The rotation helped the Tigers play an aggressive defense that rarely See GALENA, Page 8C Galena's Zach Lessinger looks to shoots over Douglas' Sam Broersma on Friday at Galena High, tomsmedesspecialto the rgj front court. Additionally, his play on the defensive end helped slow Douglas' powerful post play.

When Galena could not pass the ball inside, Alex McClellan was the Grizzlies' answer. He scored 11 for Galena and played a pivotal role in the Grizzlies' ability to move and pro-.