Rout of the century

Victoria Sun

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 10:08 a.m.

CINCINNATI -- The Sunday afternoon game between UNLV and No. 3 Cincinnati was barely three minutes and 13 seconds old when it started getting really old for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati's Jermaine Tate floated through the lane past three Rebel defenders, caught a pass from Steve Logan then pulled up for a soft five-foot jumper.

On his way back down the court to play defense, Tate jogged while shaking his head with a mixed look of satisfaction and disbelief.

"Is this game going to be this easy?" is what was written all over his face.

The answer was yes.

Cincinnati (12-1) clobbered UNLV 106-66 before 13,176 at Shoemaker Center to extend its home win streak to 36.

The loss was the 8-3 Rebels' second-worst in 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 worst loss ever."

Brotherson, who finished with 15 points, was one of the few bright spots for UNLV.

He took it to the hole despite the risk of being blocked or stopped by the Bearcats' ferocious frontcourt, led by 6-foot-9 Kenyon Martin, who plays like he's 7-9.

UNLV head coach Bill Bayno credited Brotherson, Sylvester Dotson and Chris Richardson for playing hard and competing. All three came off the bench and played the only way you can against Cincinnati -- without fear.

And all three had the heart to keep pounding inside for second or third attempts to score.

The problem was, it looked as if the same could not be said of the other Rebels.

UNLV center Kaspars Kambala was having a tremendous season entering the game, averaging 20.6 points and 9.4 rebounds.

The team was counting on him to get established inside against the Bearcats' Martin, Pete Mickeal, Jermaine Tate and Ryan Fletcher.

It never happened.

Kambala took only nine shots and couldn't get things going offensively or defensively.

He picked up three fouls in the first half and fouled out with 10 points and three rebounds in just 23 minutes.

"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 copout. He needs to take responsibility for it.

"They just kept coming at us, coming at us inside. I hoped Kas would snap out of it, but he never did."

The waves of big bodies being thrown at UNLV shut the Rebels down early.

Tate's five-footer gave the Bearcats a 9-0 lead. Donovan Stewart tried to put the Rebels on the board with a jumper that was short. Then Logan answered with his own 12-foot jumper to make it 11-0.

UNLV did not score until point guard Mark Dickel scored his only points of the game on a layup with 15:49 left in the half.

During the Rebels' scoring drought, the team committed five of its 24 turnovers including two traveling violations. UNLV had 17 turnovers in the first half.

Adding to UNLV's woes was the Bearcats' making 8-of-10 3-pointers to take a 55-34 halftime lead.

Cincinnati also took advantage of its size by whipping UNLV in rebounds 51-33.

Martin finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists while Mickeal added 16 points and nine rebounds. Bearcats freshman DerMarr Johnson had a game-high 22 points.

"We had no post presence inside to start the game and that's what killed us," Bayno said. "They dictated the way the game was going to be played and called right away.

"The game was a battle of tip-ins and we were manhandled. Our guys learned that this team was superior physically and it was tough to go up strong. When we did we were manhandled."

Especially Kambala, Bayno said.

"He didn't fight back. I'm just disappointed with our lack of mental focus. DJ (Dalron Johnson) was the same, but he's a young freshman and he will learn from this."

There's a lot to be learned.

Trevor Diggs was a boost for the Rebels early, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the first half by making 3-of-5 3-pointers.

Although Diggs has been in a shooting slump, he played well for most of the game and attacked when he could.

Like Brotherson, Diggs said this is the worst loss he ever experienced.

"It takes a lot out of you," Diggs said. "It's like, I didn't know we were that bad.

"They just play hard. Real hard. They play every possession. If you don't come to play, that's what happens."

Diggs had no answers for why the entire team didn't perform.

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

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

The Rebels have an opportunity to get back on track when they host High Point on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.