Edwards provides relief in the middle for Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 10:03 a.m.

If UNLV's season-opening 70-61 exhibition win over Global Sports on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center is any indication, Charlie Spoonhour's Rebels will be enjoying a big luxury they didn't have last season ... a true center.

J.K. Edwards, a powerful 6-foot-8, 250-pound transfer from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, scored eight of UNLV's first 15 points and finished with 14 points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes as the Rebels avenged a 73-69 loss to Global Sports last season.

Edwards also had a block, a steal and even took two charges as the Rebels overcame some poor shooting (35.3 percent) and 15 turnovers to pull out the win.

"I thought J.K. played the way we thought he would in stretches," Spoonhour said. "He did some good things. He got some baskets around the goal. We haven't been able to get those."

"I feel real comfortable under there in the blocks," Edwards said. "The way we have shooters, you can just kick it out and when they hit their shots, it will make it even easier for me in the post."

In fact, Edwards made it look easy at times against a pretty solid Global Sports front line that included former college stars such as 6-foot-9 George Banks of UTEP, 6-9 Marcus Mason of Xavier, 6-8 Patrick Okafor of Houston and 6-8 Daniel Watts from Nevada-Reno.

Edwards made his first six shots, most on power moves in the post, and finished 6-of-8 from the floor. He was also 2-for-2 from the free-throw line and ran the floor well.

"I was just trying to play and get adjusted to this whole thing of playing major college basketball," Edwards said. "I was most proud of (taking) the two charges because that's what (Spoonhour) really preaches in practice."

Nobody was happier to see Edwards play well than UNLV forward Dalron Johnson.

The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Johnson, who looked in mid-season form with a double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds), spent part of last season having to guard bigger, stronger post players such as Wyoming's Uche Nsonwu-Amadi and San Diego State's Mike Mackell because of the Rebels' lack of a true big man inside. Now he should be able to play more of his natural forward position.

"That will help me in the foul column," Johnson said. "A lot of fans are always saying that I can't be fouling and that I have to stay in the game. I think that the big guys that have come in this year like J.K. will give us a lot of help in that area.

"That was a very impressive performance by (Edwards) tonight. He really established himself."

It was a rough night shooting for both Banks and Lewis, who were a combined 1-for-14 from the floor, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range. Both appeared to be slowed by tired legs. ... Pearson had to have a large bump lanced from under his arm a few days ago. Spoonhour said it was believed to have been caused by a bug bite. "We're saying he was bitten by a tarantula," Spoonhour joked. ... Both teams finished with 50 rebounds. ... George Banks led Global Sports (1-2), which had rallied for a 77-76 win at Southern Utah on Tuesday night, with 22 points and 12 rebounds. ... UNLV plays its final exhibition against EA Sports on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

UNLV 70, Global Sports 61

Percentages: FG 31.4 FT 62.5

3-Point Goals: 7-24 (Handy 1-5, Banks 1-4, Williams 0-2, Cochran 3-5, Kimbrough 2-5, Mathis 0-1, Gosa 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 8.

Blocked shots: 3 (Banks, Watts, Gosa)

Turnovers: 20 (Kimbrough 5).

Steals: 6 (Kimbrough 2).

Percentages: FG 35.3, FT 67.9.

3-Point Goals: 3-19 (Johnson 0-4, Pearson 0-1, Hunter 2-5, Banks 0-3, Lewis 0-4, Turner 1-1, Bigby 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 2.

Blocked shots: 3 (Hunter 2).

Turnovers: 15 (Banks 4).