Rebels set to exhibit skills vs. EA Sports

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002 | 9:06 a.m.

Marcus Banks likes his UNLV Rebel teammates. But after practicing against them for 13 days straight, he's more than ready to roll out the welcome mat for a team of former college and pro players called EA Sports West that invades the Thomas & Mack Center tonight at 7:30 for an exhibition game.

"It's nice to finally see some different faces," Banks said before practice Monday. "We've been practicing against each other two long weeks now. It's been hard."

UNLV beat Global Sports 70-61 on Nov. 6 in its only other exhibition game. Tonight's game will be the Rebels' final preseason tune-up before playing games that actually count on their record, starting with a Sunday night game against Portland State at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I think the main thing we have to do is still look at some people and give some people a chance to play," UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "That's the main idea. You always try to win, but winning isn't the foremost thing (tonight). The foremost thing is that you get a good look because the games start counting in (five) more days."

To that end, Spoonhour is glad to have his final exhibition game so close to his season-opener.

"I think everything is sort of on schedule," Spoonhour said. "We just need to play some other people now."

EA Sports West, which is coming off a 73-72 victory at WAC heavyweight Hawaii on Sunday, should provide a good test for the Rebels' perimeter defense.

Led by longtime NBA sharpshooter Scott Brooks and featuring former Cal star Ryan Forehan-Kelly, Washington State alum Jan Michael-Thomas and talented point guard Markus Carr from Cal State Northridge, EA Sports West is an excellent 3-point shooting team. It has defeated Oregon State and Cal State Northridge, lost in double overtime to West Coast Conference power Pepperdine and lost in overtime at Cal.

"The thing you have to understand is that they have a pretty good team," Spoonhour said. "They have a lot of good players. They shoot a lot of 3s. It will be different for us because we have to get some people guarding out on the floor."

EA Sports West made 12 3-pointers in its win at Hawaii, including five by Michael-Thomas, who finished with 19 points. Even 6-foot-9 forward Jack Hartman (3 of 5) and 6-foot-9 Josh Merrill (2 of 4) combined to connect on 5-of-9 treys.

"They kept running the same plays on us -- penetration, kick it (outside) and hit the 3," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace told the Honolulu Advertiser afterward. "Nobody covered one-on-one ... we have work to do on our defense."

"Usually, big guys like that don't even shoot 3s," added Hawaii forward Phil Martin. "It was tough to go out that far and cover them."

After playing against each other for two weeks, the Rebels won't mind that challenge.