Columnist Ron Kantowski: Douglas: New Mexico’s lone wolf vs. BYU

Friday, March 14, 2003 | 10:28 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's is a Sun sportswriter. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or(702) 259-4088.

Do you remember that old Bugs Bunny cartoon, in which the Wascally Wabbit plays all nine positions in a baseball game at the same time?

Only in the world of animation is a one-man team literally possible. In the real world, Ruben Douglas is about the closest you are going to get.

The Mountain West Conference player of the year most likely played his last game Thursday afternoon for the University of New Mexico against Brigham Young in the MWC tournament quarterfinals at the Thomas & Mack Center. Unfortunately for the Lobos and their legions of loyal fans, he did not save his best for last.

Douglas, who really didn't precede the Franciscan missionaries to the Land of Enchantment, although it seems he has been there at least that long, was held to 18 points, 10 below his 28-point average. That was exactly the number he needed to clinch the NCAA scoring title, but not nearly enough to make a difference in a 71-56 loss to the Cougars.

The only open looks Douglas had were in the pregame warm-up. He sank just 5 of his 19 field-goal attempts and made only two over the final 28 minutes, 47 seconds.

Midway through the second half, Douglas' spindly legs appeared to turn to mush as the deeper, bigger and better Cougars kept running fresh bodies at his weary one.

This is what happens when you carry a team on your back for roughly five months -- the legs are the first things to go. The jump shot is usually next.

Just look at Douglas' field-goal numbers in his past six games: 5-for-21, 12-for-26, 5-for-17, 7-for-22, 4-for-18 and finally, 5-for-19 Thursday.

"I can't say I'm disappointed because I gave it my all," said Douglas, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Altadena, Calif., who started his career at Arizona. He averaged 8 points as a true freshman for Lute Olson, starting 14 of 27 games, but sought a greener pasture -- or at least a smaller pond -- in which to play after the Wildcats brought in Gilbert Arenas and Luke Recker.

"I'd only be disappointed if I was lackluster out there," Douglas said. I played hard ... I can't guarantee my shots are going to fall."

But it wasn't as if anybody who paid to see Douglas play was asking for a refund.

Despite the off day, he still managed a double-double, thanks to his 11 rebounds, and handed out five assists. When he left the game with 54 seconds to play, he received a standing ovation, and not just from Lobos fans.

Although Douglas started well with eight points as New Mexico took a 14-9 lead, it wasn't long before Kevin Woodbury, one of BYU's defensive specialists, attached himself to Douglas like a parasite. And once Woodbury got tired, the Cougars sent in Luiz Lemes, a gangly Brazilian with arms that stretch from Las Vegas to Sao Paulo, to harass him some more.

Call it a Ruben sandwich. And on the few occasions Douglas beat Woodbury or Lemes on the dribble, the other Cougars sagged on him like an old mattress.

With this being the least talented New Mexico team in years, there really was nobody for Douglas to throw the ball to.

"In defense of Ruben, that young man has been carrying a load on his shoulders for 30-something games," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said. "I'm sure he's tired. Man, it's difficult, especially when you run at him with two guys."

Douglas had seven games of 30 points or more and topped 40 twice, with a high of 43 against Wyoming. Without him, New Mexico might have finished the season in Old Mexico. Yet there are a lot of people -- most of whom reside in Las Vegas -- who had a hard time accepting Douglas being named the conference's best player ahead of UNLV's Marcus Banks.

For once, I might have to agree with them. Because if I were choosing sides for a game down at Sunset Park, I'd take Banks with the first pick.

The next thing I would do is make Douglas his man.