Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

REBELS BASKETBALL:

Rebounding, controlling pace UNLV’s top priorities against No. 6 San Diego State

Rebels hoping momentum from Saturday’s vintage performance can carry over into toughest game on MWC slate

MWC Championship - UNLV v. SDSU

Sam Morris

UNLV guard Tre’Von Willis is guarded by San Diego State forwards Malcolm Thomas (left) and Kawhi Leonard during their Mountain West Conference championship game Saturday, March 13, 2010. San Diego State won the game 55-45.

Preview: UNLV vs. San Diego State

KSNV previews the UNLV vs. San Diego State basketball game, Jan. 11, 2011.

UNLV vs. San Diego State

  • UNLV Rebels (13-3, 1-1) vs. No. 6 San Diego State Aztecs (17-0, 2-0)

  • Where: Viejas Arena (cap. 12,414)

  • When: 7 p.m.

  • Coaches: Lon Kruger is 150-65 in his seven seasons at UNLV and 468-298 in 25 overall seasons; Steve Fisher is 215-149 in his 12 seasons at SDSU and 389-231 in 20 overall seasons.

  • Series:UNLV leads 32-17.

  • Last time:SDSU won, 55-45 on March 13, 2010, in the MWC tournament title game in Las Vegas.

  • Line: SDSU by 5.5

  • TV/Radio:CBS-C/ESPN Radio 1100 AM/98.9 FM

  • THE REBELS

  • G Oscar Bellfield (6-2, 185, Jr.) 10.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.5 rpg.

  • G Tre'Von Willis (6-4, 195, Sr.) 12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.9 apg..

  • G Derrick Jasper (6-6, 215, Sr.) 8.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg.

  • F Chace Stanback (6-8, 210, Jr.) 12.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg.

  • F Brice Massamba (6-10, 240, Jr.) 4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg.

  • Bench: G Anthony Marshall (6-3, 200, So.) 10.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.8 apg; F Quintrell Thomas (6-8, 245, So.) 5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg G Justin Hawkins (6-3, 190, So.) 6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg; F Carlos Lopez (6-11, 215, Fr.) 5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg; G-F Karam Mashour (6-6, 200, Fr.) 3.3 ppg.

  • What to watch: For the first time in five games, Oscar Bellfield likely won't have his right wrist heavily taped. Since hurting it against Southern Utah on Dec. 18, he's 9-of-34 from the floor in four contests, including an 0-for-9 showing on Saturday night. Without tape in practice this week, his shot has looked much better. UNLV will likely need him as a scoring option to stay competitive against SDSU.

  • THE AZTECS

  • G D.J. Gay (6-0, 170, Sr.) 11.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.0 rpg.

  • G Chase Tapley (6-2, 200, So.) 8.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg.

  • F Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 225, So.) 15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.5 apg.

  • F Billy White (6-8, 235, Sr.) 9.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg.

  • F Malcolm Thomas (6-9, 220, Sr.) 12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg.

  • Bench: G James Rahon (6-5, 205, So.) 7.9 ppg; C Brian Carlwell (611, 300, Sr.) 4.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg; G LaBradford Franklin (6-2, 170, Fr.) 2.0 ppg; F Tim Shelton (6-7, 245, Jr.) 1.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg.

  • What to watch: If UNLV is going to try and bring its pressure onto San Diego State's back-court, getting in D.J. Gay's kitchen won't be as easy as it was in the past. He's developed into a solid point guard after some trial and error a year ago, and is averaging only 1.5 turnovers per game.

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UNLV sophomore forward Quintrell Thomas wasn't on the floor for any of the team's three meetings with San Diego State a year ago, but like any other observer, saw what they consistent difference-maker on the floor was.

Thomas, who sat out last season following his transfer from Kansas, doesn't expect much to be different in the first meeting of 2010-11 between the Rebels (13-3 overall, 1-1 MWC) and the No. 6 Aztecs (17-0, 2-0) on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.

"I feel this entire game comes down to rebounding," he said. "As long as we come down and do the things we're supposed to do, which is getting a rebound after playing defense, I think we'll be fine."

UNLV lost two of the three showdowns last season but was out-rebounded significantly in each game, including a 44-35 disparity in a victory over SDSU at the Thomas & Mack Center to kick off the series.

In total, the Rebels were out-done on the glass by a margin of 120-91 by the Aztecs in 2009-10.

One positive UNLV has going for itself heading into Wednesday night is that it knows exactly what to expect from SDSU's front line, which rivals any unit in the country.

The trio that did much of the interior damage against UNLV last season is what has Steve Fisher's program reaching new national heights so far this time around.

Sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard is the team's leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and rebounder (9.6 rpg) this season, and as a freshman, the 6-foot-7 freak of an athlete tortured UNLV. In the three games, he averaged 14 points and 15 rebounds per effort, including a sensational 16-point, 21-board showing in the Mountain West Conference tournament title game.

He's flanked by senior forwards Malcolm Thomas and Las Vegas native Billy White, who the Rebels' big men are quite familiar with as well.

Outside of experience being key to SDSU's success this season has been the addition of Santa Clara transfer James Rahon — a sharp-shooting guard who added a dimension for the Aztecs that they lacked too many times last season.

He's averaging 7.9 points per game but has delivered in some key spots so far, including 12 points in a road win at Gonzaga and 15 at Cal.

"It has to make them better, especially against teams playing a zone (defense)," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "It gives them an added diminution. When you try to help inside a little too much, they can throw it back outside.

"You can make a case for four or five different guys being their MVP."

Instead of spending a bulk of the time focusing on how to stop each of those "four or five different guys" individually, the Rebels have narrowed the scope leading up to Wednesday.

The mission: Rebound and play the game at their pace.

One key figure in helping balance things out on the glass will be Thomas, who after appearing to break out as the team's top interior option in late November has floundered of late.

Moving out of the starting lineup has helped him avoid foul trouble in UNLV's last three games, but he's still searching for more performances reminiscent of those he posted in the final two days of the 76 Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.

Thomas's 5.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg averages are respectable, and he's proven himself capable of producing for the Rebels, but now consistency is the goal.

"It would be a big confidence booster," he said. "I'm not as far ahead as I expected to be at this point, so this would be a good game to come out and see where me and the team are at."

After dusting TCU on Saturday night at the Mack in 83-49 fashion, the Rebels as a group were quite pleased with where they were.

It was the first time in almost a month that UNLV played solid for 40 minutes and was able to play the game at its preferred speed the entire time.

Granted, the struggling Horned Frogs may have had something to do with that, but the Rebels forced 23 turnovers, scored 32 points off of them and made their opponents uncomfortable.

No matter who the opponent was, it helped the Rebels out in a big way, as on Monday at practice, they had the appearance of a relieved team. They looked smooth and loose while maintaining their typical practice intensity.

Saturday's performance was just what UNLV felt it needed as a reset heading into what will likely be its toughest test of the Mountain West season.

In the last two seasons, the Rebels have posted awful offensive numbers at Viejas Arena, totaling only 104 points in the two losses. They feel they that controlling the flow like they did on Saturday night could reverse those fortunes.

"It's really important to see that we're capable of still doing that and it's something we need to get back to," junior guard Oscar Bellfield said. "We just really have to try to get after them defensively, stop them and keep them off of the boards."

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