Rebels hope to grow from win at SDSU

Steve Addy

Monday, Jan. 28, 2002 | 9:21 a.m.

The Rebels finally won in a pinch. Now, have they grown an inch?

If they accomplish anything substantial in their first season under coach Charlie Spoonhour, they will probably recall Saturday's 80-79 overtime win at San Diego State as the jumping-off point. Revivals are built upon such emotional victories.

Then again, if the apparent randomness of UNLV's season continues, it might be just another game with little relevance to the one preceding or following. From game to game, the Rebels' virtues and shortcomings often appear drawn from a hat.

Despite the inconsistency, the Rebels have climbed to 10-7 overall, 3-3 in the Mountain West, and it's conceivable they can approach the 17- or 18-win range needed for an NIT bid.

With two straight wins, seven of their final 10 games at home -- not including the conference tournament -- and fresh confidence after their narrowest victory, it's a scenario tailor-made for a resurgence. Whether the Rebels will exploit it is another matter.

But if they're interested and able, at least Saturday's win displayed evidence of growth. For instance:

They combined on the crucial play, with Banks passing to Amundson ahead of the pack, resulting in his winning free throw after he was fouled by SDSU guard Tony Bland. But Banks had another solid overall game, scoring a career-high 13 with four steals and three assists.

Besides compiling 21 points and four blocked shots, Kelly showed endurance in a career-high 40 minutes. He was leaking oil at the end, with only one point and three fouls in the final seven-plus minutes, but there was no noticeable erosion of effort.