Diggs benched for rules violation

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 3:33 a.m.

Because everybody has their own concept of time, perhaps the players on the UNLV men's basketball team should invest in a Swiss-made watch.

Before the Rebels hosted Austin Peay on Wednesday night, UNLV head coach Bill Bayno told guard Trevor Diggs that he would not start the game.

The reason?

"Just a very minor team rules violation," Bayno said after the game about Diggs, who arrived late for a shootaround. "I mean, we have rules.

"It wasn't intentional, but he wasn't where he was supposed to be. I was proud of what he did off the bench. Seven assists and no turnovers and he didn't force shots."

Diggs ended up with 11 points and played the second most minutes on the team, 29 (Mark Dickel played 32).

Until Wednesday, Diggs has started every game. Although he did not question Bayno's authority and respected the coach's decision, he was puzzled by Bayno's reason for benching him.

"He's the head man and he can do what he wants," Diggs said diplomatically. "I don't know what I did.

"It's just one of them things, I guess. I don't know. He said I came to practice a little bit late, like two minutes late.

"It's not a big deal to me. I'm just happy that we won and I could see my friend (Sylvester Dotson, who had 11 points off the bench) do well."

* BOMBS AWAY: Mark Dickel dropped in 4-of-7 3-pointers against Austin Peay en route to 14 points. Dickel also dished out six assists.

* ONE BIG PRESENT: The Rebels sure could use this one. Trainer Dave Tomchek is hopeful that UNLV swingman Kenny Dye may be back at practice around Christmas. The 6-foot-2 Dye sprained his shoulder against Princeton on Dec. 3.

* NEXT UP: UNLV will host No. 14 Oklahoma State at 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in the Las Vegas Showdown.