UNLV’s Dickel is MVP in the fans’ minds

Steve Carp

Monday, March 9, 1998 | 9:20 a.m.

He may not have been named the Western Athletic Conference tournament's Most Valuable Player, but there was no question in the fans' mind who was the MVP in UNLV's title run.

To the denizens of the Thomas & Mack Center, Mark Dickel stands head and shoulders above everyone else, especially after his performance in the Rebels' 56-51 victory over No. 20 New Mexico in Saturday's championship game.

After dishing out 12 assists, committing just one turnover and scoring seven points, three of which came on a clutch 3-point field goal with 2:12 to play, the sophomore point guard from New Zealand saved his best performance for last.

"Mark was sensational," coach Bill Bayno said. "You couldn't ask for any more out of a point guard than what he gave us."

Outstanding may be understating it. Logging an average of 37.3 minutes over a four-games-in-five-nights stretch, Dickel had 31 assists and just nine turnovers. That's a better than 3-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio.

Throw in the clutch treys he hit against Fresno State in the semifinals and New Mexico in the title game, his defense throughout the tournament and the way he ran the ballclub in general and it's little wonder fans were scratching their heads when it was announced that New Mexico's Kenny Thomas was MVP.

Dickel, along with teammates Brian Keefe and Tyrone Nesby, were accorded all-tournament status. But for Dickel, the real prize was cutting down the nets and knowing he was fulfilling a dream of playing in the NCAA Tournament.

"You live to play in games like this," he said.

Record attendance

Those who criticized the WAC for moving its tournament to Las Vegas should take note the week produced a record turnout.

The six sessions at the Thomas & Mack Center drew 74,942 fans, an average of 12,490. The previous high was in 1988 at Provo, Utah, when an average of 12,056 fans attended the five sessions at the Marriott Center.

Saturday's title game crowd of 16,101 also was a record turnout.

"We're very pleased," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. "The attendance this year has exceeded our expectations."

Benson said discussions on extending the WAC's stay in Las Vegas through 2000 are continuing with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Las Vegas Events. The option on the WAC's two-year deal was extended to 1999 last year.

"We hopefully will have something to bring to the presidents for their June meeting," Benson said. "Both sides are talking and we're moving along."

More records

Five WAC tournament records were set, starting with UNLV being the lowest seed to win the tourney. The Rebels were the No. 5 seed out of the Mountain Division. Three other teams had won it as a No. 4 seed.

UNLV's Mark Dickel set records for most assists in a game (12 vs. New Mexico) and for the tournament (31). Fresno State set a team mark for most turnovers caused (26 vs. San Diego State) and the Bulldogs and Aztecs combined for the most turnovers in a game (50).

As for individual leaders, UNLV's Tyrone Nesby led in field goals made with 23 and led in field goals attempted with 64. Brian Keefe led in 3-point field goals made with 13 and attempted with 32. Kevin Simmons made the most free throws with 19 and most attempts (32).

Commish takes spot

There was a strange car parked at the tunnel lot outside the Thomas & Mack in space No. 1 Saturday, and no one could figure out who it belonged to.

The spot, reserved for former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, was occupied. But not by Tark or his wife, Lois. Nor was current UNLV coach Bill Bayno parked there.

Turned out it was Benson.

"I saw that cone by that spot all week," he said. "When I drove up today (Saturday), I decided I was going to use it. So I moved the cone and parked there. I hope Jerry doesn't mind."