Nagging injuries plague squad

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000 | 10:08 a.m.

Who: UNLV at Oklahoma State

When: 5 p.m., Saturday

Where: The Myriad, Oklahoma City

TV: KFBT, Ch.(6)

Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

Good thing the Rebels didn't have a game Monday. They would have had trouble scraping together a representative lineup.

Tipping off a full week of practice after five games in eight days, the North Gym sideline was crowded with four gimpy Rebels. But trainer Dave Tomchek expects all of them to be available Saturday against Oklahoma State at Oklahoma City.

Dalron Johnson missed practice while being examined for a sore right biceps. He suffered a bruised nerve last week and will receive treatment all week.

Jermaine Lewis sat out because of a sore left knee. Coach Bill Bayno said the injury isn't serious, but "chronic."

Minutes before practice, guard Vince Booker suffered a left ankle sprain when he landed on someone's foot during a 1-on-1 drill. "I can feel it starting to swell now," he said.

Kaspars Kambala practiced only briefly because of a left knee strain suffered last week in the Maui Invitational. He spent most of practice pedaling the bike.

Also, Lafonte Johnson participated despite a sore back.

"We were shorthanded, and we just tried to get through it," Bayno said.

About the only good injury news was the sight of Lou Kelly taking effortless jump shots and running lightly. He suffered a stress fracture in his right foot two weeks ago and wasn't expected back until Jan. 1, but is ahead of schedule, Tomchek said.

Resuming hard running will be crucial, however.

"Lou's making good progress," Tomchek said. "As long as there are no setbacks, he could move up five or six days from (Jan. 1). He's very dedicated to his rehab. He's one of the best patients I've ever had."

The Committee on Infractions has settled on UNLV's punishment, but its report might not be ready for release until next week, a source close to the case said.

The university has imposed probation-like sanctions against the program, but the NCAA is certain to levy official probation and possibly additional penalties. The appeal of Chris Richardson's indefinite suspension is also under way. If the NCAA Student Reinstatement Committee reduces the penalty to 25 percent of the season, Richardson could be back for Dec. 9 at Nevada-Reno or Dec. 16 vs. Cincinnati.

The Rebels' annual two-week banishment to the North Gym has begun, because National Finals Rodeo is using the Thomas & Mack Center. ...

Oklahoma State is 1-0 heading into tonight's game at North Texas State. The Cowboys routed Missouri-Kansas City 69-46 last Tuesday. ...

Saturday's game is at The Myriad in Oklahoma City because the retrofitting of Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater won't be complete until January. Seating has been doubled to 13,611 and the building fully refurbished. ...

OSU forward Andre Williams played under UNLV assistant Max Good at Maine Central Institute.