UNLV slams back door on Air Force

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001 | 10:18 a.m.

Air Force brought a new coach and a time-honored game plan to the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday night.

But it was the same old happy result for UNLV.

After only one day to prepare for the Princeton-style offense implemented by Air Force coach Joe Scott, the Rebels defended the Falcons' backdoor cuts, sturdy screens and 3-pointers well enough to gain a 65-54 victory in their Mountain West opener.

It didn't look like your usual Air Force-Rebels game, with the Falcons employing their deliberate offense, but it turned out the same. UNLV has won the last 11 in the rivalry, losing only the first meeting between the schools in 1981.

It was also the Rebels' seventh straight win under new coach Max Good, pushing them to 10-5. Even as reports multiply that prominent boosters are courting Rick Pitino as UNLV's next coach, Good has matched the Rebels' longest winning streak since 1992.

That was Jerry Tarkanian's last team, which won its final 23 games. Nobody is suggesting these Rebels are bound for that sort of greatness, but considering the turmoil this year's team has experienced, it has made a remarkable recovery.

The streak could end Saturday afternoon at Utah, where the Rebels were destroyed by 44 last February. But for now, Good is pleased that his club played fairly well Monday against a team that isn't easy to guard.

"They give you some serious problems, but I felt we did a reasonably good job," Good said. "They're tough to play against. I'm telling you right now -- some (teams) are going to stub their toes at Air Force. Trust me."

The Rebels had to be cognizant of AFA's baseline cuts for layups as well as its 3-point shots. They gave up three backdoor layups in the first half and a couple others resulted in made free throws, but UNLV allowed only one backdoor basket after that.

In addition, the Rebels hassled one of the conference's best 3-point clubs into a 5-of-20 night from the arc. The Falcons had hit almost as many 3-pointers (129) as 2-pointers (131) this season, but never found their shooting eye.

The Rebels weren't so hot either, making only 1-of-12 3-pointers, but they led most of the way anyway. They trailed only 18-16, but put on a 15-4 spurt for a 31-22 lead that held up.

Their lead went as high as 14, with their best sequence of the night making it 56-42 with 5:27 left. In the 9-2 run, Trevor Diggs had a blocked shot, then a steal for a breakaway layup, then a driving layup and free throw after Sylvester Dotson's block. Diggs had another steal and layup in the final minute.

"I had to make something happen," Diggs said. "You have to get in there and do something, because with coach Good, you never know when you're coming out. I wasn't scoring too much, but I thought I could get some steals."

Good said, "In the first half, Trevor looked a step slow. In the second half, he would look like he wasn't in the passing lane, then he would shoot the gap and get the steal."

Kaspars Kambala, continuing to dominate small front lines, led UNLV with 18 points and eight rebounds. Diggs and Dalron Johnson scored 12 each, and Chris Richardson supplied seven points and six rebounds in 18 energetic minutes.

Jarvis Croff scored 15 and freshman Robert Todd 14 for Air Force, which fell to 5-9.