Narrow loss is no consolation

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Technically speaking, the Rebels have fallen into the consolation bracket of the Maui Invitational, but they failed to find any consolation in a tough loss Monday night.

Considering how badly they played against Top 25 teams last season, you could excuse the Rebels if they felt somewhat satisfied with their 74-69 loss to No. 8 Illinois in the opening round of the star-studded tournament.

After all, it sure beats getting blown out, which happened routinely last season when UNLV went only 1-5 against Top 25 competition.

But despite giving the Illini all it could handle in the suffocating heat of the 2,500-seat Lahaina Civic Center, UNLV was more steamed about blowing a victory that would have looked mighty impressive when NCAA Tournament bids are being hashed out in March.

The Rebels took early leads of 12-3 and 28-14, but couldn't overcome a rash of foul trouble and the superior depth of Illinois. The Illini fought back for a 36-36 tie at halftime, then slowly pulled ahead for good after foul-outs reduced UNLV's lineup to patchwork.

"I guess it's a step forward, but we are not happy with the loss. Any loss is a loss," UNLV center Kaspars Kambala said after his uneven performance (14 points, seven turnovers). "We were ahead, and if we would have played our best game, we would have won."

"I am not happy with the loss," said Trevor Diggs, who had his second straight 18-point game. "But we've got another game today, and we have to come out with the same kind of intensity."

"If there is a positive," Rebels coach Bill Bayno said, "it's that we didn't play our best basketball, but we still had a chance to win. We knew we would have to battle, scratch and fight. We just didn't get some bounces."

Even if their solid effort draws respectful nods from pollsters back East and in Big Ten country, the Rebels fell into the consolation bracket all the same. They were set to play unranked Louisville (1-1) at 1 p.m. today (no TV). Louisville was overmatched by No. 6 Maryland 95-73.

"It's three wars in three days," Bayno said. "We will have to continue to move the ball and take good shots (against Louisville). We have to be aware of their shooters. And we're going to have to use our bench."

Because of foul trouble, the Rebels had no choice but to use their bench against Illinois. Four Rebels fouled out in the final 6:18 (sub Sylvester Dotson, Danny Brotherson, Kambala and Diggs) and UNLV never got the lead back, with Illinois expanding its edge from two to 11.

Credit Illinois coach Bill Self, formerly of Tulsa. Once the Rebels' big men started racking up fouls, he pounded the ball inside to forwards Brian Cook (12 points) and Sergio McClain (eight) and center Marcus Griffin (15). UNLV's big guys had to lay off, lest they foul out, though they did anyway.

And whenever the Rebels' defense sagged inside, Illini point guard Frankie Williams tore them up on dribble-drives in the lane. He compiled 22 points, six assists and five steals, counteracting the Rebels' excellent defensive job on shooting guard Cory Bradford (four points).

"Illinois had more depth. That was my fear, and so was rebounding (42-31 for Illinois)," Bayno said. "I thought our defense really gave us a chance to win. And if we get a couple of those key rebounds, it's a different story."

JC newcomer Jermaine Lewis played like a Division I veteran, making 4-of-6 3-pointers among his team-high 19 points. Diggs, playing with senior poise, made 5-of-9 triples as UNLV went 12-of-23 outside the arc.