Nevada 64, Fresno St. 57

3/13/2008 8:09 PM

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -JaVale McGee had 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots and Marcelus Kemp responded after a scoreless first half with 12 points as Nevada beat Fresno State 64-57 on Thursday night.

McGee hit 9-of-15 from the field, DeMarshay Johnson scored 11 points and second-seeded Nevada (21-10) advanced to the Western Athletic Conference semifinals.

Alex Blair scored 14 points while Kevin Bell and Eddie Miller each had 11 for Fresno State (13-18), which trimmed a 31-19 halftime deficit to three points midway through the second half but couldn't close the gap.

Bell's 3-pointer with 11:11 remaining cut the margin to 43-40, but McGee responded with a three-point play. The 7-foot-1 center drove for a dunk and added the free throw for a 46-40 lead.

Nevada has won six straight over the Bulldogs, including a 76-63 win Saturday to close the regular season. McGee had 23 points and 14 rebounds in that one, helping the Wolf Pack to a fifth straight 20-win season.

Kemp, Nevada's scoring leader with a 20.1 average, found an offensive rhythm after going 0-for-4 in the opening half. He kick-started the offense with a 3-pointer less than two minutes after halftime.

McGee made up for Kemp's struggles with a big first half, leading the Wolf Pack to a 31-19 lead at the break. He was 5-for-7 from the field for 11 points with six rebounds.

Nevada also used a 13-0 run, with McGee hitting a 3-pointer, to erase Fresno State's early 12-7 lead.

Bell finished with four assists, making him Fresno State's career leader with 599. Dominic Young had 598 from 1995-97.