Rebels notes: Kelly remains on the sidelines

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

UNLV men's basketball head coach Bill Bayno wasn't expected to be around for the team's Mountain West Conference opener against BYU on Monday night.

But Bayno wasn't the only one missing from the bench during the game.

Junior college transfer Lou Kelly was also absent.

Kelly, dressed in black jeans and a UNLV basketball sweatshirt, had to sit behind the bench during the Rebels' 77-75 loss to the Cougars.

Although he was cleared to practice last week, UNLV officials said the paperwork allowing Kelly to be eligible to compete had not yet been completed, which was a surprise and a nuisance to Kelly.

Kelly said he was told he wouldn't be able to play in the game or sit on the bench at 6 p.m.

"I have no idea what's going on," Kelly said. "The records office there or something messed up.

"I don't know what happened."

UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro offered an explanation.

"The necessary paperwork to declare him eligible to compete, we did not receive it yet," Cavagnaro said. "My understanding is the junior college degrees will be posted tomorrow or the next day.

"We've been given every assurance that the process will be finished sooner than later. It's a process everyone has to go through."

The "process" revolves around Los Angeles City College confirming that Kelly did complete the requirements necessary to obtain his associate in arts degree -- which would make Kelly eligible to play -- and sending the official word over to UNLV.

From the time Kelly was cleared to practice, UNLV has 14 days to get the paperwork necessary for him to compete.

Kelly is hopeful that he will be eligible for the Rebels' next game Saturday at Air Force, though Kelly said after the game he wished he would have been able to contribute against BYU.

"Just to play, give one or two points," Kelly said. "Anything."

Bayno wasn't at the game because he was serving a one-game suspension for missing the mandatory MWC coaches meeting on Oct. 21.

* ARMCHAIR COACH: For the first time in five years since Bayno became the head coach of the Rebels, he wasn't able to coach. So he said he spent the evening at home watching the game on television. After the game, he showed up to talk to the assistant coaches and the team.

"It was just hard to watch," Bayno said. "I was like a parent watching my kids and feeling helpless.

"BYU's a good team. I'm proud of the way we battled back after shooting 27 percent in the first half. We've got a long season and we have to continue to work on things."

* MONEY: UNLV made 11-of-11 free throws in the first half and 22-of-26 for the game. After making 27 percent of their shots in the first half, the Rebels bounced back and made 59.1 percent of their shots in the second half.

* LEFTOVERS: UNLV is now 1-3 when trailing at the half, 1-4 when outrebounded and 0-1 in games decided by fewer than four points.

ROAD WARRIOR: After losing to BYU at home, Trevor Diggs relished the opportunity to get an MWC win on the road. "I think it's easier to play on the road to me," Diggs said, "because the crowd's against us and we come together as a team."