Breanna Denney/Nevada Sagebrush
Nevada freshman forward Cameron Oliver (0) squares up against UNLV star forward Stephen Zimmerman (33) on Jan. 23 at Lawlor Events Center. Oliver was named Mountain West freshman of the year and was named to the All-Tournament team for his play last weekend.
By Neil Patrick Healy
Nevada freshman forward Cameron Oliver was named to the Mountain West All-Tournament team on Saturday, March 12. Oliver led Nevada to the Mountain West tournament semifinals while averaging 23.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks as well as shooting 48.6 percent from the floor. Oliver is the only member of the All-Tournament team to not play in the championship game.
In Nevada’s 64-62 win over New Mexico on Thursday, March 10, Oliver had a career-high 26 points and had a game-leading 15 rebounds, which gave him his seventh double-double of the season. Oliver also had four blocks, with one coming in the final seconds to clinch Nevada’s first win in the Mountain West tournament in school history. Oliver played just shy of the full 40 minutes of play while only committing one personal foul.
In Nevada’s semifinal loss to San Diego State, Oliver posted 21 points and 10 rebounds as he earned his eighth double-double of the season. It was the first time Oliver notched consecutive double-doubles in his career. His three blocks in the game gives him 23 games this season with at least two blocks.
In Oliver’s first season he has emerged as a star for the Wolf Pack. He is averaging 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and is shooting 49 percent from the floor. Oliver was the only freshman in the conference named to the All-Mountain West team. He and Nevada senior point guard Marqueze Coleman were both named to the second team, and Oliver was named MWC freshman of the year.
2016 MWC All-Tournament Team
Karachi Edo, Fresno State
Marvelle Harris, Fresno State
Cameron Oliver, Nevada
Trey Kell, San Diego State
Malik Pope, San Diego State
Winston Shephard, San Diego State
Most Outstanding Player
Marvelle Harris, Fresno State
Neil Patrick Healy can be reached at neil@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NP_Healy.
