Rebels’ L.A. juco tandem produces a winner

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 12, 2004 | 10:06 a.m.

DENVER -- When it comes to telepathic powers, the Amazing Kreskin or John Edwards don't have anything on UNLV guards Romel Beck and Jerel Blassingame.

The two longtime backcourt mates, who helped lead Los Angeles City College to the California State Junior College title a year ago, combined for their favorite play with 21 seconds remaining here Thursday and it proved to be the game-winner as the Rebels rallied for a 55-53 victory against New Mexico in the first round of the Mountain West tournament at the Pepsi Center.

After making brief eye contact, Beck juked his defender and broke for the basket where Blassingame gave him a perfect lob pass for a backdoor dunk.

"It seems like we've done that about a hundred times this year," Beck said. "Over the years Jerel and I have probably done that a million times in pickup games and at L.A. City. Guys are so worried about me spotting up and shooting the 3-pointer that they play me real close. I just take a step back and then cut to the basket. And when I get a step on (the defender), he's done."

Other than brief eye contact, the duo do nothing else to signal the play beforehand.

"He just gives me that look and I just give him that look," Beck said. "When a guy comes up on me like that, I might tell Jerel about it when we're taking the ball out of bounds or something to give him a little warning. And then when he comes down and gives me that look, I'm gone."

Even interim head coach Jay Spoonhour was caught off guard by the game-winning alley-oop play this time around.

"You're saying it wasn't a designed play?" Spoonhour joked. "Nah, they've played together for a while. They like that backdoor play for a dunk. Shoot, we do it maybe once a game. They just kind of look at each other and know its there."

Beck was asked if the two had combined for a bigger basket than the one that won Thursday night's contest.

"No, that's the biggest one so far," Beck replied.

Not even in junior college?

"No, not like that," Beck smiled. "Heck, the game at L.A. City weren't as close as this one."