The Elevator

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006 | 8:14 a.m.

Who's headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene -- and who's getting the shaft:

GOING UP

JASON PETRIMOULX: UNLV's point guard du jour scored a career-high 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting to spark the Rebels' 71-59 win at Utah on Saturday, their first victory at the Huntsman Center since former Utes coach Rick Majerus was a size 34 (1982). While those aren't exactly Kobe Bryant numbers, don't forget the Utes play better defense than the Raptors.

MARC MAGLIARDITI: His name sounds like something off the lunch menu at Macaroni Grill but it is his game -- 18-5-3 record, .920 save percentage, 2.19 goals-against average -- that is responsible for having the Wranglers' goalie between the pipes at tonight's ECHL All-Star game in Fresno.

SHAWN MARION: The former UNLV star this week became the third player to indicate he would play basketball for the U.S. Olympic team in 2008. He's also darn proud of it, calling the opportunity "an honor and a privilege. Always." Kobe Bryant and The LeBrons also have committed.

GOING DOWN

TIM DUNCAN: The former Wake Forest star last week became the first player to indicate that he would not play basketball for the U.S. Olympic team in 2008 because he has a wedding to go to. Or a ride to pimp. Or a music video to shoot. "I have no interest in that," he said about his desire to represent his country against the rest of the world.

ECHL: Let's see if I have this right: The Las Vegas Wranglers are doing this Charlestown Chiefs thing in the ECHL with a league-best 30-6-4 record and they only get two players, a coach and an equipment manager nominated to the league's all-star game tonight? Good thing the game's in Fresno or somebody around here might be upset.

CORY LEWIS/MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE: The Colorado State basketball player nearly took off the head of UNLV's Dustin Villepigue with a flagrant punch during the Rebels' 68-57 victory against the Rams at the Thomas & Mack Center last week -- only to have the league office let him slide like Maury Wills stealing second base. Lewis received the bare minimum one-game suspension. No word yet on whether Marcus Vick will be transferring to CSU.

Ron Kantowski can be reached at 259-4088 or at ron@lasvegassun.com.

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