Kambala-less Rebels win 5th straight game

Steve Addy

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

One of these days, we'll finally get to see how the Rebels fare with a fully healthy roster.

But until then, they keep finding ways to get by with a shorthanded lineup.

UNLV was missing star center Kaspars Kambala because of a back strain on Wednesday night, but received an amazing effort from sophomore forward Dalron Johnson and pulled away for a 75-60 home victory over Loyola Marymount.

The Rebels improved to 8-5 with their fifth straight win, and this might have been their best confidence-builder of the streak. Marymount (4-8) wasn't one of their scariest opponents this season, but the Rebels still managed to win comfortably without their best player, and that can't hurt.

Give most of the credit to Johnson, who fueled UNLV from the start and had a season-high 21 points, a career-high 16 rebounds (11 offensive), eight blocks and five assists in 37 minutes.

On a night when the Rebels shot only 37 percent, but held LMU to 34.7, they fared best when the ball was in Johnson's hands, and when he was swatting LMU shots all over the Thomas & Mack Center.

Johnson would have reached double-figures in blocks, but three or four were nullified by fouls away from the play and another by a shaky goaltending call.

"It looked to me like he batted 10 or 12 out of there," coach Max Good said of Johnson, who averages 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds. "He's been playing better of late. He has controlled his emotions better. He has been working hard at trying to play well at both ends of the court."

Johnson admitted that his focus and effort have improved since Good took over six games ago.

"Earlier in the season and last year, I played in spurts," he said. "But coach Good demands that you play hard on the defensive end. Whatever you're doing, you had better be playing hard. And he demands more out of me in practice. The harder we practice, the easier it makes the games."

With Kambala on the bench in street clothes, Johnson's performance was just what the Rebels needed. In almost every game, they have had to make up for someone's injury absence. In all 13 games, their rotation has lacked at least one regular and sometimes more.

Kambala was coming off a terrific game Sunday at Old Dominion -- 22 points, 16 rebounds -- but injured his back in practice Tuesday. He was held out as a precaution, and his status is questionable for Saturday night's home game against Chicago State.

"Kas saw the doctors and he's got a mild sprain," Good said. "We could have played him if we absolutely had to."

It wasn't necessary. Though Johnson and Trevor Diggs (19 points) had to carry UNLV most of the way (their teammates shot a combined 12-of-44), the Lions couldn't muster enough firepower of their own. They made only 2-of-19 3-pointers, and Johnson contested most of their short jumpers.

Elton Mashack scored 17 for LMU, Robert Davis 14 and Greg Lakey 13.

Lou Kelly and Jermaine Lewis scored nine each for UNLV, with Kelly making two 3-pointers to spark a 10-2 run that gave the Rebels a 29-21 lead with 6:50 left in the first half. They didn't trail after that, despite making only 2-of-15 shots to start the second half.

"I don't think we had our legs," Good said. "That's my fault. I ran them too hard in practice (Tuesday). We didn't have our usual day-before practice. We're a tired team. We were going to lift weights (today), but not now. I don't want to see them anywhere near the (arena)."