Kelly looking to prove himself

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 | 10:53 a.m.

WHAT: UNLV vs. Global Sports, exhibition game

WHEN: 7:35 tonight

TV: None

RADIO: KBAD 920-AM

Lou Kelly no longer worries about starting for UNLV's basketball team. Finishing would excite him now.

After spending last season puzzled by the allocation of playing time, the 6-foot-5 senior swingman is eager to prove himself worthy of late-game minutes under new coach Charlie Spoonhour, not the ego-stroke of making the starting five.

Kelly was rightfully encouraged by his career-high 24 points off the bench in Saturday's 96-68 exhibition victory over the EA Sports All-Stars, and another solid exhibition tonight against Global Sports would please him.

But Kelly said he isn't content to compile impressive statistics in games that don't count. His goal is to play productive minutes in important games -- the role envisioned for him when the Rebels signed him out of Juco ball in 1999.

"Starting doesn't matter to me. The last five minutes, when the game is on the line, is when I want to be out there," Kelly said. "I guess it's good to start, but who finishes the game is more important.

"When you come off the bench, you can get a better read on both teams. You see what mistakes are being made. There can be an advantage in not starting."

Slowed by foot injuries, Kelly has shown flashes of potential for the Rebels, but inconsistent shooting and spotty defense have relegated him to a backup role.

After averaging 10.2 points over five games last season, he was rewarded with three starts. But he shot a combined 3-of-15, had only 10 points and returned to the bench.

Kelly didn't handle the demotion well. Excluding a combined 28 points in blowout losses to Georgetown and Colorado State, he shot only 8-of-35 from Jan. 13 through the end of the season. He finished with a 6.2 scoring average and shot 38 percent, only 29 percent on 3-pointers.

Especially for a player who averaged nearly 26 points at San Bernadino Valley CC in 1999, those were ghastly numbers.

But Kelly felt he deserved a better opportunity to prove himself to interim coach Max Good.

"I would play pretty well in the first half, score 10 points, then hardly play in the second half," Kelly said. "I always tried to stay ready, but I never knew when I was going to play. It took a toll on me."

Kelly has a clean slate under Spoonhour. He is finally pain-free and trimmed 10 pounds over the summer. In 19 minutes against EA Sports, a sleeker Kelly hit 10-of-13 shots and got five rebounds, including three for put-backs.

"It was a good confidence boost, because I haven't played too well at the Mack," he said. "I consider it a good first step. It was a way to start the year right."

Spoonhour viewed it as nothing more than that and nothing less.

"Lou has shot the ball pretty consistent (in practice). His offense is fine," Spoonhour said. "His defense is like everyone else's -- it's got some areas that need improvement.

"You can't judge too much off (exhibitions). You can't get overly thrilled or frustrated. We'll be finding out what guys can do through December, into January."

"This game will probably be more realistic in terms of how we substitute," Spoonhour said. ...

Global Sports is 3-6, having beaten Kansas State, Southern Utah and Utah State and losing to Fresno State by four. But Nevada-Reno has beaten them twice by nine. ...

The season's first basketball luncheon is at noon Thursday in the Si Redd Room at the Thomas & Mack Center. Admission is $10.

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