Rebels to play closed scrimmage at Long Beach

By Rob Miech

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 | 2:15 a.m.

UNLV’s basketball team will get its first run against someone else next weekend before its Nov. 10 exhibition game against Division-II Washburn at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Like they have the past two seasons, the Rebels will hit the road for a closed-door scrimmage, this time at Long Beach State on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Sixth-year UNLV coach Lon Kruger has taken his players to such scrimmages at Pepperdine and Arizona State the previous two seasons.

“The public won’t be there, so that will take pressure off everyone,” Kruger said. “We’ll work with the opposing coach and determine what we want to do. Usually, we’ll get a lot of scrimmaging in.”

Blue Ribbon and The Sporting News preseason annuals tab the 49ers as the favorites in the Big West Conference, while USA Today and Lindy’s pick The Beach second.

Sophomore swingman Larry Anderson, a Long Beach native, was the Big West’s first freshman to earn first-team all-conference recognition in 35 years.

Dan Monson, the former Gonzaga coach whose tenure at Minnesota didn’t go so well, is in his second season running the 49ers and Anderson will highlight a young group.

His 15-15 debut last season was a boost, considering Long Beach went 6-25 two seasons ago.

Teams can either conduct two closed-door scrimmages, one of those and an exhibition, or two exhibitions.

Kruger has gone on the road because of the Pro Bull Riders’ tour that is scheduled at the Thomas & Mack Center this time of year.

“It’s worked out fine, which I don’t mind,” he said. “It’s a little road audition, if you will. We jump on the bus, spend time together and a night on the road, and it will give them a little taste of the road before they count.

“Going against each other can get a little comfortable.”

Practice update

Kruger did not want to single out anyone, but he’s been pleased with a host of Rebels as they started their second full week of practice.

“Oscar (Bellfield) and ‘Tre’ (Tre’Von Willis) have played well, and Darris (Santee) has rebounded the ball really aggressively,” Kruger said. “I like what those guys are doing.

“And I think Derrick (Jasper), health-wise, seems to be getting healthier every day. Anthony (Marshall) has just started back, and Chace (Stanback) hasn’t been out yet. We’re anxious to get them healthy, too.”

Marshall participated in the first half of Monday afternoon’s session inside the Cox Pavilion practice gym, then trainer Dave Tomchek had him apply an ice wrap around his tender right hamstring.

Stanback, the sophomore forward from UCLA, badly twisted his left ankle two weeks ago today, but he appears to be moving better every day and could practice soon. He has not played since practice started.

No first teamers

Willis, against former Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing, is featured in the main Mountain West photo slot of the USA Today college hoops guide that recently hit the newsstands.

The Rebels are tabbed second, behind BYU, and no UNLV player made the publication’s all-league first team. Willis is on the second team.

Louisville at UNLV (Nov. 28) and UNLV at Utah (Feb. 17) are two of the four don’t-miss games, and UNLV’s recruiting class of Anthony Marshall, Justin Hawkins and Carlos Lopez is listed as second behind San Diego State’s.

One left

Kruger has one scholarship left for the season, and he said he will keep a close eye on the transfer market this winter in between semesters.

New ticket packages

UNLV released three new balcony ticket packages Monday, ranging from $39 to $65.

The former includes the opening night against Pittsburg State, UNR or Louisville, and a choice of two from Southern Illinois, Holy Cross, Weber State, South Carolina-Upstate, Air Force or TCU.

The premium package is Pittsburg State, UNR, Louisville, SC-Upstate, Air Force and BYU.

Go to unlvtickets.com or call 739-3267 for more information.