CBI Championship 2016: Game 3 Score and Reaction for Nevada vs. Morehead State

In his final college basketball game, senior guard Tyron Criswell scored a game-high 21 points as the Nevada Wolf Pack won the College Basketball Invitational with an 85-82 win over the Morehead State Eagles on Friday night at Lawlor Events Center. 

UNR became the first Mountain West team in the history of the league to win a postseason tournament, according to the Associated Press (h/t KOLO 8).

Gianna Giorgi of KRNV captured the Wolf Pack celebrating after winning the CBI on their home court:

"

Nevada beats Morehead State 85-82 in the #CBIChampionship to win its first-EVER postseason title! pic.twitter.com/AAXvbv2Abj

— Gianna Giorgi KRNV (@Giorgi_KRNV) April 2, 2016"

UNR star freshman Cameron Oliver scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and also blocked six shots. Wolf Pack guard D.J. Fenner scored 17 points on 18 shots, as Reno won despite shooting 37.5 percent from the floor.

Morehead State had six players in double figures, with four of them coming off the bench. Senior forward Lyonell Gaines scored a team-high 17 points, and freshman forward Lamontray Harris scored 15 off the bench. The Eagles, however, had to go well into their bench because Gaines and guard Brent Arrington fouled out of the game.

While Morehead State used 11 players, the Wolf Pack only suited up only seven players.

First-year UNR coach Eric Musselman joined some rare company after leading his team to the CBI title, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Although Morehead State came up short, it found a way to keep the game close even while going into its bench. The Eagles' senior leadership made some plays and almost pulled off the upset, but it wasn't meant to be on this night.

Although Criswell is graduating, the Wolf Pack are in good hands with Oliver leading the charge. He closed the year by scoring in double figures 13 times, and he scored at least 20 points five times after the Mountain West tournament got underway in March. His play dictates UNR has a favorite for player-of-the-year honors next season, as well a guy who could lead Reno to a conference title next year.

Postgame Reaction

Criswell knows about winning individual awards during his basketball career, but he finds it more gratifying to win a team award in his final NCAA game.

"It feels good to win an individual award, but when you win a big one with your team it feels so much better, Criswell said, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), "especially when you know you're team's been through so much,"

The Wolf Pack bounced back from three consecutive losing seasons, only to come back in Musselman's first year at Reno to win the tournament. And he can also use this as a springboard for himself down the road.

"Mission accomplished: send our seniors out the right way," Musselman said, per the AP. "For our freshmen (they) can sit back and think about all the experience they got ... all those guys got better obviously with all these extra games and extra time together. Even myself, I know I'll be a better coach coming back next year getting these extra games."

Despite once trailing by 12 points, Morehead State did not give up, and that's been the mantra all year for the Eagles, according to head coach Sean Woods.

"That's what we did all year," Woods said, per the AP. "We don't stop playing. We are going to play until the final buzzer and that's what we did tonight."