Rebels find NIT success

Steve Addy

Wednesday, March 13, 2002 | 10:31 a.m.

In case anyone has forgotten what the N in NIT stands for, the Rebels were back on a national tournament stage Tuesday night and extended their surprising season at least one more game.

By holding on for a 96-91 home win over Arizona State, the best Pac-10 team not in the NCAA field of 65, UNLV gained its first postseason victory (other than league tournaments) since 1997. In the interim, the Rebels had gone 0-2 in NCAA Tournaments and 0-1 in the NIT.

"We aren't playing for the national championship, but we're still playing for a championship," Rebels forward Dalron Johnson said after scoring a team-high 26 points. "We're not just looking to finish this season strong, but we want to be ranked next season."

For that to occur, the Rebels (21-10) would probably have to win the tournament, but they need two more victories just to reach the semifinals in New York. Their next opponent won't be settled until today when South Carolina (18-14) visits Virginia (17-11) at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2).

The winner of that game will meet UNLV next Monday or Tuesday, but the day and site won't be finalized until Thursday. It is unknown if the Rebels will get a second home game. They drew 3,952 to the Thomas & Mack Center, a distant third among five NIT games Tuesday.

"If we're home, great. If we're on the road, great. We've won some games on the road," coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "I'm just happy that we're still playing. I think that's neat."

After the letdown of losing the MWC tournament championship Saturday, costing them the league's automatic NCAA bid, the Rebels came back with an effort that was merely sufficient. They weathered a slow start, gradually pulled ahead by 14 in the second half, then had to make 13 of 14 free throws in the final 1:57 after Arizona State rallied to within 81-79.

The most surprising aspect of the win, and the season, is that UNLV continues to overcome its most glaring weakness -- rebounding. ASU dominated the boards 47-29 and grabbed 25 on the offensive end, but the Rebels were unbowed by the Sun Devils' second (and third) chances.

Indeed, UNLV has been outboarded so often -- 19 times in 31 games and 1149-1035 overall -- that it has learned to live with it. That concession has given the Rebels a wafer-thin margin for error, but they've found a way to make it work, compiling a 9-10 record when outrebounded.

The Sun Devils helped by missing a number of short put-backs, and the Rebels did their part by blocking seven shots.

"At halftime, coach said, 'Get rebounds, get rebounds, get rebounds,' and left the room," said UNLV guard Marcus Banks, who scored 23. "I thought we slowed them down a little -- enough to win the game."

"(ASU) rebounds with four people all the time," Spoonhour said. "They're a little more aggressive, more physical and tougher than most of the teams we play. They really get after it. But we overcame it."

Lou Kelly had 19 points and eight rebounds, combining with Johnson and Banks for 68 of the Rebels' points. All five ASU starters scored in double figures, led by forward Awvee Storey, who scored 14 of his 29 in the Sun Devils' late push. Guards Curtis Millage and Jason Braxton had 21 and 17, respectively.

The victory was the Rebels' first at this stage of the postseason since they won two NIT games in 1997, beating Memphis and Hawaii. A loss at Arkansas cost them a trip to the semifinals.

Tuesday's win also ended UNLV's five-game losing streak to Pac-10 teams since a Dec. 2, 1997 victory at USC. Though the Sun Devils finished 14-15, they placed seventh in a conference whose top six teams received NCAA bids. ASU had beaten Oregon, Arizona and UCLA.