Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 | 8:49 a.m.
Since installing Jason Petrimoulx at the point six games ago and adding a new wrinkle into the offensive philosophy three games ago, UNLV coach Lon Kruger has the Rebels clicking.
The team that was 2-5 before playing Texas Tech used a victory over the Red Raiders to start a stretch in which it has won five of six games. Petrimoulx has been a catalyst, scoring 40 points with 13 assists and no turnovers in his last three games.
The junior, a Cimarron-Memorial High graduate, said the Rebels were stunned after learning that they had committed only two turnovers, believed to be a school record, in Wednesday's conference-opening victory at Wyoming.
"Unbelievable," Petrimoulx said. "We were all in shock when we saw the stat sheets. We were just really impressed with that."
He said Kruger implored patience and swinging the ball around the perimeter to seek better shooting options for the Dec. 29 game against Loyola Marymount.
The result has been three double-digit wins.
"It's been good to us," Petrimoulx said. "We're not turning the ball over, and we're not rushing into anything. We've been flowing ... and seeing more options. I've always felt like a natural point guard."
Hot shooter
Senior forward Dustin Villepigue's 72.2-percent shooting percentage leads the Rebels and is second in the Mountain West Conference, but he isn't using that to beg Kruger and his staff for a more prominent role in the offense.
His 54 attempts rank sixth on the team, and that's fine with him.
"That's not my role," Villepigue said of lighting up the scoreboard. "When they need me to score, I will. I just take the shots when they come to me, try not to force anything. If we need a bucket, I'm very confident.
"Coach says the plays we run are supposed to create an advantage. If I don't have an advantage down there, I'm going to give someone else an advantage."
The helper
Villepigue (VILL-uh-peg), at first glance, might seem unapproachable, if not mean. He's 6 feet 9 inches and weighs 230 pounds. Tattoos adorn his left forearm, right biceps and back. Designs for a ninth and 10th are in the works.
Appearances, however, are deceiving. Villepigue, a native of Simi Valley, Calif., is one of the more easygoing college athletes. In snow and freezing temperatures in Wyoming last week, he sauntered around in flip-flops.
"(Teammates) make fun of me because I'm always wearing my flip-flops everywhere," he said. "It's just my personality. I'm a laid-back guy from California."
Also noted:
Darger has scored 34 points this season, and 12 came against the Cowboys. He hit five of his six attempts from the field, including both of his 3-point attempts.
"It was a lot of fun," Darger said. "I just tried to go out there and help my team, playing hard and running the plays. When I had an open shot, I just let it go."
* UNLV hosts Brigham Young tonight. The Rebels play at San Diego State on Saturday.
Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at [email protected].
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