UNLV playing Cowboys for some respect

Victoria Sun

Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 | 11:29 a.m.

Oklahoma State dealt the UNLV basketball team an 81-69 loss last December at the Thomas & Mack Center.

But if you think Saturday night's rematch that pits the Cowboys (8-0) against the Rebels (6-1) is about revenge, you are mistaken.

Donovan Stewart, one of five players on last year's squad who got taken down by the Cowboys, said he doesn't even remember what happened during that game.

To Stewart and the rest of the Rebels, playing 14th-ranked Oklahoma State in the nightcap of the Las Vegas Showdown means more than a chance to get even.

"This game is very important," Stewart said. "We definitely want to beat a ranked team to get any kind of respect.

"It's either that way or you blow everybody out by 30 like the UNLV of old."

Stewart's formula for earning respect and recognition sounds simple enough.

Playing the unbeaten Cowboys won't be.

Eddie Sutton's team has experience, size and a formidable backcourt.

All five Cowboys probable starters are seniors, including two 6-foot-10 bruisers inside, Brian Montonati and Alex Webber.

Oklahoma State point guard Doug Gottlieb averages 7.5 points and 11.5 assists a game while the team's leading scorer, Desmond Mason, averages 19.4 points.

The Cowboys are a physical team and UNLV coach Bill Bayno said the tempo of the game may mirror the way the Rebels played Georgetown.

Depending on who is playing well, Bayno did not rule out the possibility of putting Kaspars Kambala on the floor at the same time as Issiah Epps to combat the Cowboys' strength inside.

Another key matchup will be how well Rebels point guard Mark Dickel, averaging 13.6 points and 9.1 assists, plays against Gottlieb.

It's true that all eight of Oklahoma State's victories have been over patsies such as Alcorn State and North Texas, but that doesn't change the fact that it still is considered one of the country's top teams.

Nor does it change the fact that the Cowboys will be favored to win.

"Everybody might not think we can pull it out," Stewart said. "I know different.

"Believing you can do it is everything. If you don't believe you might as well cancel the game."

There's no chance that will happen. So on Thursday afternoon, Bayno held a short practice at UNLV's North Gym to get the team focused to play the Cowboys after the Rebels manhandled Austin Peay 87-66 on Wednesday night.

The challenge for the coaches is to get the players ready for a tougher team that has a totally different makeup.

"We're just showing them what we want to do to defend them and how we want to handle their defense offensively," Bayno said. "They've been focused and done everything we've asked them to do.

"This is a team that has been able to make the adjustments we want with relative ease."

It is also a team that is worlds apart from a season ago.

"Last year, we had a lot of talent, but a lot of selfishness," Stewart offered. "This year, there's not that much of a selfish attitude."

Ultimately, Bayno figures that the game won't come down to talent, but to heart.

"I just think whoever wants it the most will win," Bayno said. "They're a very intense team and we will have to match it." REBEL BASKETBALL