Aloha, Hawaii fans

Monday, Nov. 21, 2005 | 8:02 a.m.

By Rob Miech

UNLV's assists in its opener against Long Beach State, a high in second-year coach Lon Kuger's tenure with the Rebels. UNLV gave out a school-record 41 assists against Wagner on Dec. 28, 1982.

UNLV will host the first half of a unique home-and-home series against a non-conference opponent Tuesday when Hawaii visits the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels will travel to Honolulu to play the Warriors on Dec. 6.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said he and veteran Hawaii coach Riley Wallace, starting his 19th season, concluded that such a series is "a natural" for the two programs.

"It's a case where, basically, when you live in Las Vegas, or you live in Hawaii, finding places that are appealing for your fans to travel to ... we were talking like that," Kruger said. "Hawaii guys travel well to Vegas, and I know Vegas fans like going to Hawaii."

Kruger said Boyd Gaming Chairman William S. Boyd, whose family had long supported UNLV and its athletic programs, helped in arranging the series.

Mike Shepherd, UNLV's director of basketball operations, confirmed that the Rebels and Warriors have signed to play another home-and-home series next season.

Kruger said he goes "way back" with Wallace, whose Warriors routed No. 4 Michigan State on Saturday in Honolulu.

"He does an excellent job," Kruger said. "He's a good guy who loves basketball, and his teams always compete hard."

Playing to the end

UNLV led Long Beach State by 31 points with less than six minutes remaining Friday night when sophomore swingman Curtis Terry took a charge to give the Rebels the ball.

"Coach told us to take charges. He knew they'd drive it at us," Terry said. "We're trying to change the whole mentality of the team, to hustle and be scrappy. I'm always going to take a charge, no matter what."

And about UNLV wanting to extend the lead, even when it is ahead by 30 or 35?

"We just wanted to push and push, we'll keep pushing till the last buzzer sounds," he said. "It just played into our hands (against Long Beach). But we're a good team when we slow it down and go into halfcourt, too."

Also noted

* Junior guard and Las Vegas native Jason Petrimoulx committed no turnovers in 53 minutes in two exhibition games, and he turned it over only once in 23 minutes against Long Beach.

* UNLV leads the series with Hawaii, 17-8. The last time they met, Hawaii won 85-68, in the first round of the NIT in Las Vegas in 2003.

Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at miech@lasvegassun.com.