Nov. 8, 1999
LAS VEGAS: The UNLV Runnin? Rebels defeated Global Sports 103-97 on Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in the team?s first exhibition game.
Five Runnin? Rebels scored in double figures. Junior center Kaspars Kambala scored a game-high 23 points (9-for-16 FG, 5-for-7 FT) and pulled down 14 rebounds in 31 minutes. Junior guard Trevor Diggs scored 19 points in 33 minutes, senior point guard Mark Dickel recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists in 35 minutes. Sophomore forward Chris Richardson added 12 (10-for-10 FT) and freshman forward Dalron Johnson rounded out the double figure scoring with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in 26 minutes.
UNLV never trailed in the game and raced out to an early 8-0 lead in the first 1:19. UNLV enjoyed its biggest lead of 15 points with a 36-21 lead with 9:18 left in the half. Junior forward Sylvester Dotson made two free throws with 3 seconds left to give UNLV a 54-41 halftime lead.
Global Sports, which dropped to 1-4 on its 12-game tour, outscored UNLV 56-49 in the second half. Global Sports cut the deficit to 58-53 with 16:33 left in the game. UNLV then scored five straight points to take a 63-53 lead with 15:39 left. Global Sports then cut the lead to 71-67 at the 9:54 mark. Global Sports couldn?t cut the lead any closer the rest of the way. UNLV led 78-68 at 9:10 and Global Sports came right back and trailed 80-75 with 7:53 left.
Johnson?s jumper at 3:33 increased UNLV?s lead back to 90-81. Andre Branch connected on a 3-pointer to cut the score to 96-91 with 1:13 to play.
The second half was played out at the free throw line. UNLV shot .774 (24-for-31) from the line in the second half and .787 (37-for-47) for the game. Global Sports shot .700 (16-for-22) in the second half and 21-for-30 for the game. UNLV shot .449 (31-for-69) from the field and Global Sports shot .449 (35-for-78). UNLV shot .211 (4-for-19) from 3-point range and Global Sports shot .300 (6-for-20).
Global Sports outrebounded UNLV 51-39. Forward Sai Tuialii led Global Sports with 22 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Guard Marcus Saxon added 18. UNLV will host California West All-Stars in its final exhibition game on Monday, Nov. 15, at 7:35 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. California All-Stars are currently 3-3 on its 14-game tour.
