Low turnout, routine dunks mark Rebels’ Fan Jam event

Steve Addy

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 11:31 a.m.

Fans were few and the jams were routine, but Charlie Spoonhour wasn't complaining.

The new UNLV basketball coach debuted his team before about 1,000 at the annual Fan Jam on Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Though attendance was barely half of that for last year's event, Spoonhour didn't interpret it as local indifference to the Rebels, even if season ticket renewals are off 20 percent.

"I appreciate the people who came out," he said. "You'd always like to have more folks, but it was a school night, and I'm sure people have been pretty involved in the World Series."

Besides, Spoonhour has said since taking the job in March that the rejuvenation of the program wouldn't happen overnight.

"It's the same at every school -- you have to win," he said. "I understand that."

The dunk contest also lacked its usual excitement, mainly because Spoonhour prohibited the contestants from leaping over props or people. He didn't want any injuries.

"These guys jump high enough already," he cautioned.

Chris Richardson won for the fourth straight year, beating Juco newcomer Lamar Bigby. Both made all four dunks, but there wasn't much flashy stuff. On Richardson's last dunk, he threw down a one-hander and stuck half of his arm through the net.

"I didn't get my whole arm through. That's what I was going for," Richardson said.

In a 20-minute scrimmage, the Gray beat the Scarlet 30-25, led by Bigby with eight points and Dalron Johnson and Lou Kelly with six. Noel Bloom had six for the Scarlet.

The Rebels play a home exhibition Nov. 10 against the EA Sports All-Stars (7:35 p.m.) and open the regular season Nov. 17 by hosting rebuilding Wisconsin.