Cincinnati beats UNLV, 106-66

Victoria Sun

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Cincinnati men's basketball coach Bob Huggins is one of the most vociferous coaches in the game.

The 11-year coach of the Bearcats is known for working the sidelines the entire game, barking at the referees and his players without mercy.

But after the Bearcats (12-1) tamed UNLV (8-3) early on Sunday afternoon by holding the Rebels scoreless for a little more than four minutes, Huggins was relatively quiet compared to his usual self because he didn't really need to get loud.

All he had to do was crouch down by the scorer's table and watch as his No. 3- ranked team methodically pummeled the Rebels, 106-66, in front of 13,176 spectators in Shoemaker Center. It was Cincinnati's 36th straight victory at home.

While Huggins must have enjoyed the game he said he thought was "the hardest we've played all season for 40 minutes," the game wasn't too pleasant for UNLV head coach Bill Bayno.

The loss for the Rebels was the second-worst loss in school history. In 1971, under coach John Bayer, the Rebels lost to Houston, 130-73.

"I've never been beaten by 40 before," UNLV's Danny Brotherson said while shaking his head after the game. "Never.

"This is definitely my worse loss ever."

Not that Brotherson didn't try.

He finished with 15 points, while Trevor Diggs had 18.

Bayno gave credit to Brotherson, Diggs, Sylvester Dotson and Chris Richardson, because they were the only Rebels that didn't look intimidated by Cincinnati's big men.

The same could not be said of UNLV center Kaspars Kambala or freshman Dalron Johnson.

Kambala had been having a tremendous season, averaging 20.6 points and 9.4 rebounds entering the game, and the team was counting on him to establish himself inside against the Bearcats' Kenyon Martin, Pete Mickeal and Jermaine Tate.

It never happened.

He picked up three fouls in the first half and ended the game with 10 points and three rebounds.

"It's more mental with Kas and we've got to find a way to challenge him," Bayno said. "For whatever reason, he didn't show up today and play like the Kaspars Kambala he can be.

"I think he was intimidated. For him to say anything else would be a cop out. He needs to take responsibility for it.

"We had no post-presence inside to start the game and that's what killed us. He didn't fight back.

"I'm just disappointed with our lack of mental focus. DJ (Dalron Johnson) was the same (as Kas), but he's a young freshman and he will learn from this."

There is a lot to be learned.

The Bearcats jumped out to an 11-0 lead before Rebel point-guard Mark Dickel scored his only two points of the game with a lay-up with 15:49 remaining in the first half.

UNLV committed five of its 24 total turnovers in those four minutes and 17 in the first half.

To make matters worse, the Bearcats made 8-of-10 3-pointers in the first half en route to a 55-34 halftime lead.

Martin had 21 points, six blocks and six rebounds for the Bearcats, while freshman DerMarr Johnson had 22 points.

"At this point, I don't know," Diggs said of the loss. "These types of players, you can't leave guys open.

"All the coaches gave us a good game plan to follow, we just didn't follow it. Cincinnati got a good front line. You've got to match it.

"Whoever saw the game saw the game. There is no finger pointing. But you can't be intimidated. You have to go out there and play."

The Rebels will have their next opportunity to play when they host High Point on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.