UNLV going for big score in D.C.

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

Who: Rebels at Georgetown

When: 4:30 p.m., Thursday

Where: MCI Center, Washington D.C.

TV: KFBT (Ch. 6)

Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After gaining a win to grow on, now the Rebels are going for the pinch to grow an inch.

Beating New Mexico on national TV on Monday night restored much of UNLV's credibility after its meltdown last week at BYU. It was an 80-72 win that showed depth and maturity, because the Rebels played more than half of the game without Kaspars Kambala and Trevor Diggs.

But they can take another giant step Thursday when they visit No. 10 Georgetown (16-1), which suffered its only loss Saturday against Pitt. If the Rebels follow Monday's win with an upset of the Hoyas, it could provide a confidence boost for their final 10 Mountain West games.

Not to mention an image enhancement for a team with few remaining tangible goals. Banned from the postseason, UNLV is more inclined to savor opportunities such as Thursday's 4:30 p.m. game at the MCI Center.

"After what happened at BYU (91-63 loss), we had to show everyone we were better than that and we weren't quitting on our season," Sylvester Dotson said. "We got that out of the way (by beating New Mexico), and now we have a chance to upset a highly ranked team.

"If we play as hard as we did (Monday), there's no reason we can't play Georgetown tough. Who knows what could happen?"

Who knows, indeed. After the turmoil that beset them last week -- conflict between Diggs and Kambala -- the Rebels (11-7) mustered one of their best games of the season to elude New Mexico. While their top two scorers served their punishment on the bench, the Rebels gained a nine-point halftime lead and massaged it the rest of the night.

With strong performances by stand-in starters Jermaine Lewis and Dotson, and nine points by sub Chris Richardson in the first half, UNLV proved it might have one of the deepest clubs in the MWC.

Whether that will mean much to Georgetown, which already owns two wins over Seton Hall, is doubtful. But at least a lot of Rebels will enter the game feeling positively about themselves. Ten played at least 10 minutes against the Lobos.

"Under the circumstances, it was very good -- our best game since Illinois," coach Max Good said. "We had a lot of guys play well. That is the kind of win you want going into a long trip like this. At least it makes the trip somewhat palatable."

Lewis said, "Without Kas and Trev, we tried to pull together even more, to hold off (New Mexico) until the second half, when those guys were able to play. A lot of guys got to contribute, so everyone should be happy getting ready for Georgetown."

The Rebels will need all the manpower they can get. Georgetown's staples are defense, depth and up-tempo offense. The Hoyas are holding foes to 35 percent shooting, and they also have eight players averaging at least 6.9 points. Four previous starters come off the bench.

"Our depth is incredible," said Georgetown coach Craig Esherick, whose team was routed by UNLV 85-69 last year at the Thomas & Mack Center. "Depth has been our mainstay. It is the chief ingredient for our style. We bring guys off the bench who are just as good, if not better, than the starters."

Freshman power forward Mike Sweetney (260 pounds) has emerged as a dependable inside threat, averaging a team-leading 12.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, but the Hoyas' backcourt is their strength. Point guard Kevin Braswell scored 26 points last week in a 99-91 win over Seton Hall, and Las Vegas native Demetrius Hunter (Cheyenne HS) averages 8.7 points.

Braswell played under Good in 1998 when Maine Central Institute went 35-0.

"I got to see him up close and personal for 35 games," Good said. "He didn't start for me if you can believe it. (Former St. John's player) Erick Barkley was our point guard and Kevin was more of a combo, but Kevin played just as many minutes."