Ho, hum! Rebels take frustrations out on struggling Florida Atlantic

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

With all the joy of a wart removal and no more energy than necessary, the Rebels got on with the business of rescuing their season Tuesday night.

At least that's what they hope.

But for now, there's no way to know if UNLV's 81-60 home rout of Florida Atlantic was merely a nonconference escape from the club's Mountain West woes or a stabilizing victory that inspires the Rebels to a successful finishing kick.

It's a pertinent question, because Tuesday's contractual-obligation walkover came fewer than 24 hours after UNLV's stinging 96-52 loss at Utah on ESPN, an embarrassing Big Monday defeat that seriously wounded the Rebels' chances to win the conference and claim an NCAA Tournament bid.

After all, how much could change based on a Tuesday morning team meeting and a win over a 1-25 Florida Atlantic club that has lost 23 straight?

At least it's a start, UNLV coach Bill Bayno believes. He knows the Rebels have to sweep their three remaining regular-season games and win the Mountain West tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center to capture the hearts and minds of the NCAA selection committee. That quest begins on Saturday when the Rebels (17-7, 7-4 MWC) host Air Force (7-16, 3-7).

"After the loss at Utah, we need to make this a new season from now on," Bayno said. "Today was the first day of the rest of our season, and I think this win will give us a boost."

Senior co-captain Mark Dickel shared his coach's fresh optimism.

"We had a meeting and pretty much agreed that we've got to win every game from here on out," Dickel said. "We've got the conference tournament at our place, and I really think we can win it, all things being equal.

"We can't do anything about the two games that we just lost (BYU and Utah), but I think we've learned that we have to show up and play hard every game."

Like many UNLV fans, the Rebels probably would've preferred not showing up -- literally -- for Tuesday's game. Because of schedule incompatibility, the Rebels and Florida Atlantic could not play in January as planned, so UNLV was forced into the odd position of playing its third game in four nights.

The only reason the matchup was made in the first place is because Florida Atlantic's coach is ex-Rebels star Sidney Green, so UNLV honored its commitment and won as easily as expected. But after Monday's debacle at Utah, the crowd was small (10,614 announced, 4000-ish in reality) and the Rebels worked up just enough perspiration to satisfy the diehards.

UNLV bolted to a 25-5 lead after 12 minutes, as Florida Atlantic made only 2-of-17 shots. That settled matters quickly, with the visitors getting no closer than 14 thereafter.

"You saw how hard it was for us," Bayno said. "We fought the fatigue and did what we had to do. You could see our guys were struggling. I don't want to ever (play on back-to-back nights) again. But it was a scheduling blip that we just couldn't get around."

Dickel said, "When you lose like we did (at Utah), you just want to get a win. You don't care who it's against. So I was glad we got right back on the court."

Florida Atlantic had no one of Kaspars Kambala's size, and the UNLV center dominated under the basket with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Dickel scored 19, Dalron Johnson 14 and Trevor Diggs 13 with nine assists and six steals.

Guard Ryan Hercek scored 22 to lead Florida Atlantic, hitting 6-of-11 3-pointers. His team was outclassed, but Hercek at least gave them a shooter's chance of keeping it close.

"I thought maybe we had butterflies," Green said. "It was unfortunate. In the first half, I don't know where we were. It was like we were back on the beach in Boca Raton. We picked it up in the second half and were able to make some shots."

* REBEL NOTES: In such an easy win, why was Dickel still in the game at the end and why did he play 39 minutes? And why were he and Kambala on the court at the end of the Utah blowout?

"Because they were playing hard," Bayno said, trying to impart a lesson to other Rebels.

Dickel said he has no problem with that and is unconcerned about wearing down.

"That's why I ran every day in the summer and worked out four days a week," he said. "It is the end of my career this season and I don't want to come out for anything. If we're ahead by 20, 40 or whatever, I don't want to come out." ...

Backup forward Sylvester Dotson was the only Rebel who did not play, sitting out for a "violation of team academic policy," Bayno said. ...

Johnson played with his left hand heavily taped, but it's a minor injury.