Rebels in market for new opponent

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 10:28 a.m.

SUN STAFF REPORT

Because of an administrative foul-up by Mississippi State, UNLV is scrambling to add a game to its men's basketball schedule.

The Rebels' Dec. 30 home game against Mississippi State has been nixed because the Bulldogs are scheduled to play in the Arizona tournament the same weekend. UNLV and Mississippi State were unsuccessful finding an alternative date, so the Rebels need to find another opponent.

UNLV has contacted several potential replacements, but has not filled the date, associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said. Among the possibilities are Bradley, Southern Utah, and Marshall.

"We're getting ahold of as many schools as we can," Koloskie said. "We've notified the Mountain West, and ESPN is helping, too. At such a late date, it's hard to find a game with anybody, let alone a game that would be attractive to our fans."

The replacement game would not necessarily be Dec. 30. An afternoon game on New Year's Eve is possible, Koloskie said, but more likely is a January or February date. UNLV already has one nonconference game sprinkled within the conference season, Jan. 25 at Georgetown.

Tentatively, UNLV and Mississippi State plan to play each other next season and in 2002.

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