Lack of sponsor delays new practice facility

Steve Carp

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999 | 10:14 a.m.

That new practice facility UNLV was planning to occupy this coming fall will probably not open its doors until 2000.

With the Thomas & Mack Center still trying to secure funding for the $8.5 million T&M Pavilion which will sit adjacent to the 18,500-seat arena, the Rebels will have to continue to practice in the North Gym when the Mack is not available.

"We'd rather have a title sponsor in place before we build it," T&M director Pat Christenson said. "We have some meetings set up in the next couple of weeks with potential donors and we may have something to announce soon.

"That's not to say we still won't build it if we don't get a donor. But right now, the Pavilion won't be ready for the 1999 basketball season."

The three-story, 60,000-square foot structure is designed to have two full-sized basketball courts as well as a 2,500-4,000-seat "arena court" which would serve as a new home for UNLV's women's basketball and volleyball teams.

In addition, there will be new locker rooms for basketball, storage areas and a walkway between the Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack, which will serve as the home for UNLV's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Christenson said the plan is to complete the first floor of the building, which was started last fall when the second tunnel to the Thomas & Mack was built, in time for the start of practice for next season. The locker rooms will be on the first floor. The rest will come once the funding has been secured.

Coach Bill Bayno said he understood.

"It's a financial thing," he said of the delay. "Money's tough right now. But I'm sure it will eventually get done."

* 'D' RICE: Want to know how Rice turned around a disastrous 6-22 season a year ago into 11-3 so far? It's the defense.

The Owls lead the WAC in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.3 percent from the floor. Rice also leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense as teams are shooting just 29.4 percent from long distance. Rice is second to Utah in scoring defense, allowing just 58.2 points a game.

Last year, Rice allowed an average of 70 points and opponents shot 44 percent from the floor and 34 percent from 3-point land.

* KAS LEADS WAC: Sophomore center Kaspars Kambala is atop the WAC leaders this week, as his 66.3 percent shooting from the floor is the best in the league. Greedy Daniels and Shawn Marion are tied for the league lead in steals with an average of 2.6 per game. Colorado State's Andre McKanstry also is averaging 2.6 swipes a game. Marion is third in blocked shots with a 2.1 average. Fresno State's Melvin Ely leads with 3.2 swats a game. And Mark Dickel is second to former Western High star Prince Fowler in assists. Dickel is averaging 7.2 assists while Fowler leads TCU with a 7.5 average.

Team-wise, UNLV ranks first in opponents' free throw percentage as teams are shooting just .587 from the stripe against the Rebels. UNLV is tied with Tulsa for most steals as both schools average 10 a game. The Rebels are third in field goal percentage, shooting 49 percent from the floor. New Mexico and TCU are 1-2 at 51.3 and 50.3 percent, respectively.

* HOOP DU JOUR: UNLV reports no injuries for tonight's game. Everyone will be available. ... If the Rebels are ahead at halftime tonight, you should like their chances of winning the game. UNLV is 8-1 when leading at intermission, 0-4 when trailing at halftime and 0-1 when tied at the half. ... A reminder that the first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles tonight will receive a free Rebel mini-basketball.