Keon Clark brings life to Rebels

Steve Carp

Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 | 4:21 a.m.

NEW ORLEANS -- It took a while, but the explosion everyone waited for occurred.

Actually, it took just over 4 1/2 minutes. But as UNLV's big center rammed the ball through the hoop, the basket shook with a familiar, violent tremor.

Keon Clark was back. The Rebels were glad to see him. And most of the 3,395 who showed up at Fogelman Arena wished he was still in Las Vegas Sunday.

Overcoming a slow start, Clark made his presence felt and delivered in the clutch when the Rebels held off a late Tulane charge to win 77-61.

Having been forced to sit out the first 11 games by the NCAA for accepting extra benefits last spring, Clark's long-awaited 1997-98 debut was a smashing success. The 6-foot-11 senior finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes as the Rebels improved to 7-5.

"I'm glad we got it out of the way," Clark said of his first game. "I felt I was in pretty good shape."

While he committed seven turnovers and wasn't credited with a blocked shot, Clark altered more than one Green Wave shot. As the game wore on, Clark was able to get into the flow.

When the Rebels needed a rebound, Clark grabbed it. When they needed a big basket, Clark delivered. And his mere presence gave UNLV a totally different look.

Kaspars Kambala was no longer double-teamed in the post. Tyrone Nesby was getting out and running from his small forward spot. He hit four of his first six shots and finished with 11 points.

And with guards Greedy Daniels and Mark Dickel getting the transition game going at every opportunity, this was indeed the UNLV team Rebels fans have been expecting.

"I thought he helped the other guys," coach Bill Bayno sad of Clark's debut. "He took the pressure off Tyrone and Kas and he helped our guards."

"Keon didn't play great tonight and we still win by 15."

Clark worked hard at both ends of the floor and seemed quicker and stronger.

"I thought he did the best he has at closing out on his man," Bayno said.

The Rebels appeared rejuvenated having their captain back. They started quickly, building a 20-9 first-half lead.

Mixing it up inside and outside, UNLV had balance offensively. Other than a brief spell when Tulane went zone and crept back to 22-18, the Rebels were able to get shots.

Bayno elected to go zone as well. The ploy worked as the Green Wave couldn't buy a basket over a six-minute span.

By the time Ledaryl Billingsley threw down a two-hand slam with 3:28 to go, UNLV was up 35-23. It closed the half with five unanswered points to lead 40-25 at intermission.

Tulane appeared a bit intimidated when it looked to go inside against Clark. It shot just 26 percent from the floor in the first half and was just 2 of 9 from 3-point land. The Green Wave (5-7) didn't fare much better in the second half. Tulane wound up shooting just 32 percent from the floor and made only 4 of 25 tries from long distance.

Clark's ability to find open teammates when doubled in the post was the big reason UNLV overcame the zone.

With Tulane trying to contain Clark, it opened the door for Issiah Epps to work inside. He delivered another solid effort with eight points and four rebounds. Corky Ausborne also benefitted as the Green Wave collapsed inside on Clark and the other big men. Ausborne finished with 12 points, all coming from long distance.

"He can find people," Bayno said of Clark. "Teams are going to zone us and Keon knows how to get the ball back out to the right people."

UNLV had things well in hand, leading 58-42 midway through the second half. Still, the Rebels had to weather one more storm down the stretch as Tulane attacked inside against Clark and Kambala, both of whom were playing with four fouls.

But both remained on the court and together they insured UNLV of its second straight win for only the second time this year. The Rebels opened the season with consecutive wins over Loyola Marymount and Eastern Michigan.

"It was great having him on the floor," said Kambala, who finished with 14 points and five rebounds. "He makes everyone's job easier."

Not everyone. Opposing coaches will discover their lives have gotten a little more difficult.