RENO, Nev. (Interstat) — The Nevada Wolf Pack opened their season with a commanding 77-50 victory over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a near-capacity Lawlor Events Center.

A dominant second-half performance sealed the win for the Wolf Pack, who outscored the Bulldogs 43-32 after halftime. Nevada never trailed after the opening minutes, establishing a 34-18 lead by the break and steadily expanding it throughout the second period.

Chuck Bailey III led all scorers, pacing the Nevada offense with a game-high 24 points. His backcourt mate, Tayshawn Comer, added 10 points and five rebounds, while Elijah Price controlled the glass with eight rebounds to go with nine points.

The game was defined by starkly contrasting offensive efficiencies. Nevada scored its 77 points on 67 possessions, an offensive rating of 114.4, while Louisiana Tech managed just 50 points on 63 possessions, an offensive rating of 79.3. The Bulldogs’ shooting struggles were a primary factor, as they connected on only 3 of 22 attempts from beyond the three-point arc and shot 36 percent from the field overall.

Nevada was more effective from the floor, shooting 44.6 percent, and capitalized on opportunities at the free-throw line, making 21 of 28 attempts. The Wolf Pack also won the battle on the boards, securing 12 offensive rebounds to Louisiana Tech’s seven.

Defensively, Louisiana Tech showed some resistance with eight blocked shots, led by Melian Martinez’s three and Kylan Howze’s two. However, the Bulldogs’ 12 turnovers and an inability to generate consistent offense proved too much to overcome.

Howze, AJ Bates and DJ Dudley each scored nine points to lead Louisiana Tech in a balanced but insufficient scoring effort.

The announced attendance was 7,144. With the loss, Louisiana Tech begins its season 0-1, while Nevada starts 1-0. The Bulldogs will look to rebound in their home opener against Lyon on Sunday. Nevada’s next contest is on the road against Santa Clara on Nov. 15.