Rebels find reason to keep believing

Steve Carp

Thursday, Feb. 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Back in December when his team was struggling at 1-5, Bill Bayno wondered if UNLV would win 10 games this year.

It took nearly the entire season, but the Rebels have indeed cracked double digits, sparing them the embarrassment of joining the inaugural 1958-59 squad as the lone team to fail to win 10 or more. That first Rebel team went 5-13.

However, with that footnote having been rendered moot, Bayno now asks rhetorically, "Why not 11? Or 12?"

Why not indeed?

"This team believes," Bayno said of his 10-15 squad, which likely closes out its 14-year Big West era Saturday at Utah State. "They've never quit, which is what I love about them.

"We'll have teams that will have better talent and win more games, but I don't know if I'll coach another team that worked as hard as this one has."

If playing well down the stretch means anything, then UNLV has a good shot Saturday in Logan. The Rebels have won three of their past four, and have finally managed to win away from the Thomas & Mack Center. As a result, they have the added incentive of playing for a spot in next week's conference tournament and a chance to extend the season.

"There were times I thought we were out of it," Bayno admitted. "But we're still in it and while it's not us vs. them (Utah State) for all the marbles, I'll take it."

If the Rebels prevail Saturday at the Spectrum and Long Beach State and Nevada-Reno defeat UC Santa Barbara and New Mexico State, respectively, UNLV will earn the sixth and final berth in next week's conference tournament at Reno's Lawlor Events Center.

For many previous UNLV teams, the goal of being in and winning the Big West tournament would be a given, with the primary focus being the NCAA Tournament. But for this team, which has been fighting adversity since practice began last October, going to the conference tourney would be a goal to be proud of.

"We've been through a lot," said guard Sunshine Smith. "We lost two starters (Eric Lee and Damian Smith). We've had a lot of injuries and we've lost some close games. But nobody gave up because we believe in ourselves.

"I think everyone's going to be ready to give it their best shot Saturday. It's another do-or-die game for us."

Actually, even if the Rebels do win, they could die if Long Beach State and New Mexico State don't cooperate.

"We can't worry about that because we have no control over what happens at Reno and Santa Barbara," Bayno said. "All we can do is go up to Utah State, try to win and hope for the best."

Hoop du jour

* BACK TO WORK: UNLV returned to practice Wednesday after taking Tuesday off. Big men Warren Rosegreen and Tony Lane practiced and said they were feeling much better. Both have struggled with the flu. ... The team will practice today at the North Gym before leaving for Utah Friday morning and practicing in Logan that afternoon.

* AGGIES PLAYING WELL: Winning Saturday at Logan won't be easy for UNLV. Utah State has won three of its past five and is 11-3 at home. The Aggies were in it against first-place UC Irvine Monday night, but the Anteaters eventually pulled away, 81-76. Senior F Silas Mills leads USU in scoring with a 17.3 average. Senior F Eric Franson is averaging 16.7 points and 9.0 rebounds. ... UNLV leads the series 27-2 and has only lost once at the Spectrum since the schools began playing each other in 1983.