Keefe steps up in UNLV victory

THE NUMBERS: Neither team managed to block a shot Thursday, which is unusual. It's the first time this year UNLV has failed to block a shot. ... Kevin Simmons was the only other Rebel to hi

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 2:44 a.m.

For a guy who hardly touched the ball the last time he played, Brian Keefe hadn't forgotten why he is at UNLV.

The 6-foot-3 junior shooting guard was brought here to give the team an offensive boost. But for myriad reasons, he has come up short more times than not.

Monday at Utah, Keefe didn't take a shot. Thursday, not only did he get to shoot, but virtually everything that left his hand went down. And with it, went down Wyoming, 72-66, to a UNLV team that depserately needs someone to step up and start making some shots.

With the regular-season finale Saturday against Colorado State and the opening round of the WAC tournament set for Tuesday, Keefe's going to be an important man for UNLV as the Rebels battle for an NIT berth. They're 15-12 heading into the Saturday finale with the Rams.

Thursday marked the first time all season the Rebels beat a team in the top 50 in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI). Wyoming was ranked 34th this week.

"I feel if I'm in a rhythm, I can help the team," Keefe said after ringing up a career-high 27 points. "It has been a tough year for me. I've been very frustrated at times because I know I can do better than I've shown.

"But through all of this, I've tried to keep working hard and not get down too much."

The transfer from UC Irvine and Boston College knew what was expected. But shooting is an inexact science. One day, nothing goes in. The next, everything drops.

Thursday was an everything kind of night for Keefe. He hit his first five shots and had 14 points at halftime. His best look of the night came early in the second half, a wide-open 3-pointer, which he missed. But he made some huge shots, too, and he knocked down 7 of his 9 free throws.

"The guys were really looking for me tonight," Keefe said. "We were setting great screens for everyone, not just for me.

"I was also trying to move more without the ball. I've been caught standing in one spot and when you're standing, you're the easiest one on the floor to guard."

At Utah, Keefe tried to move, but the Utes did a great job of shadowing him and he never got off a single shot. Thursday, the Cowboys tried to check him closely. But once he had found the range from long distance, he was able to create his own shot.

"My normal game is if I'm hittting my 3's, I feel I can drive on anyone," Keefe said.

But it hasn't been a normal year for Keefe and his teammates. With everything that has been happening off the court, it took virtually the entire year for UNLV to find a little continuity.

Now, it appears the Rebels have found some flow. And perhaps Keefe's career has turned the corner as well.

"I hope so," he said. "I know the fans have expected a lot from me and they're right to, because I expect this from myself. But I've been trying to find the answer myself and maybe this was it."

Hoop du jour

* CORKY TAKES PART: Saturday's Senior Night ceremonies prior to the Colorado State game will take place with Corky Ausborne participating and Keon Clark not attending the finale. Ausborne, who quit the team Feb. 7 but still is in school, was given the option to participate in the pregame activities, and he has opted to take part. Clark, who was suspended from the team Feb. 9 and decided Tuesday not to return for the remainder of the season, is headed back to his hometown of Danville, Ill., this weekend and will not be around for the last game of the year. Three other Rebels -- Tyrone Nesby, Tyrell Jamerson and Justin Thacker -- will be honored before the CSU game and as is tradition with seniors at UNLV, all three will start.

* WISH COMES TRUE: For 7-year-old Jose Venegas, it was a night he'll always remember. The young Las Vegan, who is battling leukemia, had two of his wishes come true Thursday as the Make-A-Wish Foundation took him and his family to Jose's first UNLV basketball game. He sat on the bench for the first half and got to meet the entire team and coaching staff. In addition, his other dream, to go to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., also will became reality as his doctors have cleared him to travel. Jose and his family will likely make the trip at the end of March thanks to the efforts of the Make-A- Wish Foundation.