Colorado State will be severe test for UNLV

Steve Carp

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 9:25 a.m.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Before a team can have chemistry, it must have continuity.

With all five starters and eight lettermen returning from last year's 20-9 team, Colorado State has it.

UNLV, which has gone through myriad lineups before hitting upon a combination that appears to be comfortable for the players, is striving to attain it.

That may be the Rebels' biggest obstacle in trying to beat the Rams tonight at Moby Arena.

No matter what lineup UNLV coach Bill Bayno puts on the floor, he can't make up for lost time. That's where Stew Morrill's team has the edge.

"They're a solid, solid team," Bayno said of the Rams, who are off to their best start in school history at 15-3 (3-2 in the WAC Mountain Division). "Any time you return five starters, you'll have very little slippage. Their only losses are to three solid teams -- Utah, New Mexico and Nebraska."

The key for UNLV on this three-game road trip is making sure the progress doesn't stop. The unselfish play exhibited by the backcourt of Mark Dickel and Brian Keefe along with front-liners Keon Clark, Kaspars Kambala and Donovan Stewart appears to have had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team.

There was a carryover from the second half of last Saturday's Utah game to Monday's win over Chaminade. Dickel said the team must build on that win tonight.

"I think the other guys are more patient when they see what we're doing and see that it's working," Dickel said. "When they come into the game, they know they have to fit in."

It was most evident to Tyrone Nesby, who was yanked from the starting lineup Monday but played well off the bench by not rushing or forcing shots. In only 17 minutes, he had 10 points.

"All I did was let the game come to me," Nesby said.

And that is what Bayno is stressing to whoever is on the floor.

"We may not get as many easy shots at Colorado State, but we still have to look to push the ball and try and get it to the open man," he said.

Colorado State has had strong play from its backcourt of Jameel Mahmud and Milt Palacio. Mahmud is averaging 14.1 points to lead the Rams while Palacio is averaging just under 10 points and 5.6 assists playing the point.

The Rams have held teams to 55 points or less on seven occasions this year.

Throw in the formidable front line of Ryan Chilton, Matt Barnett and Bryan Christiansen, and it makes it tough for opponents to break CSU down. The Rams average only 13 turnovers a game.

"It's kind of unusual in that we have a 6-3 point guard and a 5-11 shooting guard," Morrill said. "But it works for us."

Hoop du jour

* ABOUT THE RAMS: Not only is Colorado State off to its best start ever at 15-3, the Rams have done it despite two key injuries. Forward Bryan Christiansen missed six games with a sprained left knee earlier this season. His replacement, James Smith, filled in admirably, averaging 14 points. But Smith suffered a stress fracture of his right foot against New Mexico Jan. 12 and hasn't played since. He is not expected to play tonight. ... Point guard Milt Palacio has started all 47 games he has played at CSU. Senior forward Matt Barnett has started 73 straight games for the Rams. ... Keep an eye on Ryan Chilton's scoring tonight. If the 7-foot Chilton manages to score in double figures, Colorado State stands a pretty good chance of winning. The Rams are 7-0 when Chilton goes for 10 or more points.

* EVERYTHING'S GOOD: UNLV will keep things status quo tonight. With the Rebels healthy, look for coach Bill Bayno to stick to the rotation he used Monday against Chaminade where only one player -- Keon Clark -- played more than 30 minutes. "As long as people are producing, we'll get them in," he said.