UNLV successful in first test run

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

Who: UNLV vs. LA Stars

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack

TV: None

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

A warning label ought to be attached to UNLV's 94-80 exhibition win over the Delta Jammers on Tuesday night.

Warning: Any revelations from this game should be tempered due to the lameness of the opponent.

With all due respect to the Jammers (which isn't much), the Rebels would be wise to largely discount their victory over a ragtag cast of former college players from California.

Though the Rebels won easily, they didn't learn much that they didn't already know. It wasn't especially enlightening to see:

We've seen all of that before.

Likewise, most of the UNLV newcomers struggled, certainly no surprise for an opening game, especially before an expectant (but tiny) crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center. Freshman point guard Lafonte Johnson was quite solid, but Lou Kelly and Jermaine Lewis didn't shoot well.

But just like the positives, those negatives deserve a more accurate barometer. The Rebels won't get that until the Nov. 17 regular-season opener against Northern Arizona. Friday, they have to endure another exhibition against a club team, the L.A. Stars, at the Mack.

"The (exhibition) teams that come in here, they're not very good, but they're athletic," coach Bill Bayno said. "I liked the way we moved the ball, but we've got a long way to go defensively and rebounding.

"We saw too many drives up the middle, and we're going to see a lot more complex offenses than this. But it was hard to get in a flow because we played a lot of guys."

Ten Rebels played in the first half, when Bayno started Kambala, both Johnsons, Brotherson and Trevor Diggs. In the second half, he started Richardson, Dalron Johnson, Vince Booker, Chris Popoola and Diggs. Eight Rebels played at least 17 minutes, but none more than 25.

Kambala scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half, when the Rebels took a 45-33 lead. He finished 12-of-17 from the field, mainly because the Jammers didn't have anyone to challenge him in the low post. He also dealt four assists and showed defensive energy.

Richardson looked good, as he usually does in a fast-tempo game, scoring 16 on 7-of-9, including two emphatic dunks in a decisive 22-11 run in the second half. Dalron Johnson came back from a two-point first half and finished with 14 and nine rebounds.

Lafonte Johnson had a solid debut as Mark Dickel's replacement at point guard. He had four assists and five points in 19 minutes, and committed no turnovers in a ragged game. He was fairly efficient at getting the Rebels into their halfcourt offense, where Kambala did his best work.

"I was a little nervous at the beginning," Johnson said. "It was a new atmosphere and a bigger crowd. I just wanted to find the open man, get guys good shots and have (few) turnovers."

The other new guys will want a do-over on Friday. Kelly shot 2-of-10, including two first-half airballs, and was 0-of-6 on 3-pointers. He had some nice passes in the second half, though. Lewis scored nine points, but shot 3-of-9 overall and 1-of-6 on 3-pointers.