Comeback is no consolation for Rebels

Steve Addy

Monday, Dec. 24, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

Rallying from 17 down was inspiring, but it wasn't UNLV's most encouraging accomplishment Saturday.

No, the most positive aspect of the Rebels' 87-78 loss to Texas in the Las Vegas Showdown was their utter dismissal of any moral victory.

Considering UNLV's many blowout losses to quality nonconference teams over the past few years, the Rebels might be expected to take grudging satisfaction in coming back after trailing 50-33 with 14 minutes left.

But after battling to within 71-70 with 4:31 to play, the Rebels staggered to the finish line, and their sour postgame disposition pointed to more ambitious goals than merely playing close against good teams.

Even if the Rebels' lively second half sparks useful maturation, there was no consolation in the loss before an announced 9,601, which dropped UNLV to 5-4.

"We lost the game, and there's no satisfaction in that," said Marcus Banks, who compiled 19 of his career-high 26 points in the second half, teaming with Lou Kelly (22 points) to propel the rally. "You never want to be satisfied in a loss. You can't think like that or you'll never win."

Chris Richardson said, "We all feel we could have won the game. It's frustrating we let it get away. We came out too lackadaisical. That worked against Loyola, but not against this team."

The Rebels trailed 8-0, 16-5 and eventually 36-18, hitting only 9-of-31 first-half shots while Texas made 17-of-32.

If not for Kelly's terrific second half, in which he hit 4-of-5 3-pointers, UNLV might have been blown out. As it was, the Rebels gave up an 11-4 run after they cut the deficit to one.

"We can't continue to put ourselves in a hole and then strive to come back," guard Vince Booker said. "We have to be there from the jump. You can see once we get things clicking, we play pretty well. But we have to play that way the whole game."

"We have to do things a lot better to beat a team like Texas, home or away," coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "We can improve a lot. That's the good thing. But now the question is, are we going to? Are we going to dig in and do that?"

Spoonhour and Co. didn't require deep analysis to determine where the game got away.

Beyond the fact Texas (7-3) is a deep, talented club whose losses are to Arizona, Indiana and Gonzaga, the Rebels were badly outplayed within five feet of the rim. The Longhorns had 64 points in the paint to UNLV's 30, mainly owing to a 49-29 rebound edge. Texas had 20 offensive boards to the Rebels' 18 defensive.

Time after time, Texas would win a tip drill for a rebound and score on a put-back or the resulting possession, bringing groans from the crowd. En route to their 36-18 lead, 13 of the Longhorns' 17 baskets were layups, tip-ins or jumpers inside 10 feet.

Free throw shooting also continued to hurt the Rebels. Though they made 16-of-21 in the rally, they were only 2-of-6 before it and 1-of-4 in the waning minutes. Banks struggled especially, hitting 8-of-17.

Banks' foul-line problems might've been more maddening had he not played so assertively in the rally, especially after UNLV put on the fullcourt press. He was credited with four of his six steals in the second half, creating havoc on the press and dogging the passing lanes.

The Rebels' press is developing into a fine weapon, contributing heavily to their 53 steals in their last four games. Texas did not handle it well at all, particularly freshman point guard T.J. Ford, the nation's assist leader, who had seven turnovers against eight assists.

"There are a few glitches to work out," Dalron Johnson said. "Sometimes our press breaks down. But we want to get it as good as Kentucky's used to be."

In his last three games, Banks has scored 18, 22 and 26, pumping his average to 15.0. ...

There is no Spoonhour radio show until Jan. 8 because Christmas and New Year's Day are on Tuesdays.