Surging Rebels beat Old Dominion 82-67

Steve Addy

Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 | 6:56 a.m.

The real Kaspars Kambala showed up Sunday afternoon, and his UNLV teammates responded like they were happy to see him.

After slumping for most of December, Kambala aggressively compiled 22 points and 16 rebounds as the Rebels ended 2000 with an 82-67 victory over host Old Dominion at Norfolk, Va.

Kambala, who led UNLV in scoring only once in its previous seven games, dominated under the basket and had his best output against a Division I team since his 37-point effort against Louisville on Nov. 21. Kambala shot 9-of-16, though he made only 4-of-11 free throws.

But Kambala had plenty of help in leading the Rebels (7-5) to their fourth straight win. Trevor Diggs scored 21 points, giving him 55 in his last two games, Dalron Johnson supplied 14 with seven rebounds and Lou Kelly scored 13 (11 in the first half).

Before 2,979 fans at the Scope, UNLV climbed to 4-1 since Max Good took over as coach, and Sunday's win was Good's 100th as a Division I head coach. He had a 96-129 record at Eastern Kentucky from 1981-89.

After trailing by six twice in the first half and 36-35 at halftime, UNLV came out with renewed aggressiveness in the second half and gradually pulled away. Kambala scored nine points in a 17-7 run that gave the Rebels a 52-43 lead midway through the half.

Diggs ended that spurt with a 3-pointer, the first points of his 14-point second half. He played excellent defense as well, helping to hold ODU scoring leader Pierre Greene (13.1 ppg) to only five points and 0-of-9 field goals. Diggs made four steals.

Diggs and the Rebels methodically extended their lead. Diggs' layup made it 58-45, and then he hit two free throws for a 66-51 edge with six minutes to play. That was UNLV's biggest lead until the final score.

ODU made it interesting by twice cutting the lead to eight, but the Rebels stayed ahead at the foul line.

"We were more aggressive in the second half," guard Lafonte Johnson said. "We had to start attacking the basket more and stop holding back."

Johnson played a solid game after being replaced by Vince Booker as the starting point guard. Johnson supplied nine points, six rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. He had been held scoreless in four of the previous five games, but played with great assertiveness.

Booker got in foul trouble and went scoreless in 15 minutes.

For Old Dominion, which sagged to 4-9, Andre McCullum scored 17 and Rasheed Wright 16.

The Rebels were without swingman Jermaine Lewis, who suffered an ankle sprain Saturday at practice. He dressed for Sunday's game, but didn't play. His status is uncertain for Wednesday when the Rebels host Loyola Marymount at 7:35 p.m.