November 12, 1998
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Runnin' Rebels will open their 41st season of basketball against Sacred Heart on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:35 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center (18,500). UNLV was 2-0 in exhibition games. The Runnin' Rebels defeated Global Sports, 101-81 on Nov. 5 and California All Stars, 79-69 on Nov. 10. The Runnin' Rebels will open the season with a four-game homestand over the first 11 days of the 98-99 campaign.
All Runnin' Rebel games will be carried live on KXNT AM-840. Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick will call the action all season long. Fans can bring their radio to the game and tune in to KXNT's radio broadcast inside the Thomas & Mack Center on 99.5 FM. Runnin' Rebel basketball can be heard on www.broadcast.com
TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be televised by FOX Sports West 2. The game will mark the first of six telecasts this season by FOX Sports West 2. Tom Kelly and Reggie Theus will call the action.
RADIO/TV SHOW INFO: "Game Time with UNLV Hoops" television show will be shown every Sunday on KLAS TV-8 at 5:30 p.m. (begins Nov. 29). The show, with Head Coach Bill Bayno and host Chris Maathuis, features previews of upcoming opponents and highlights of previous games.
"The Bill Bayno Radio Show" can be heard live every Tuesday from Gordon Biersch (located on 3987 Paradise Road) at 7 p.m on KXNT AM-840 with hosts Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick. The weekly show features interviews with coaches, opposing coaches as well as listener call-ins. Listeners are invited to call in to the show at (702) 733-5968. First coaches show TBA.
In addition every Runnin' Rebel game can be heard live on Teamline by calling (800) 846-4700. The Runnin' Rebel team access code is 1094.
LINEUPS: Here's a glance at the possible starters for each team.
SACRED HEART (0-0)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl.21 Andrew Hunter F 6-7 So.34 David Fesko F 6-7 Sr. 25 Mindaugas Lydeka C 6-9 Jr. 13 Kurt Reis G 6-0 So. 23 John Randazzo G 6-3 Jr.
UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS (0-0)
Pos. Ht. Cl. 31 Shawn Marion F 6-7 Jr. 5 Kevin Simmons F 6-8 Sr. 34 Kaspars Kambala C 6-9 So. 11 Mark Dickel G 6-2 Jr. 3 Brian Keefe G 6-4 Sr.
INJURY UPDATE: Athletic Trainer Dave Tomchek report: Issiah Epps has a left groin strain. He played in both exhibition games against Global Sports (Nov. 5) and California All Stars (Nov. 10).
TICKET INFORMATION: Season tickets as well as individual game tickets are available for the 1998-99 season. For season ticket information, call 895-UNLV and individual game tickets are available at the Thomas & Mack Center box office.
PROMOTIONS: The first 2,500 fans will receive schedule magnets from PacifiCare at the Sacred Heart game on Nov. 14. The first 2,500 fans will receive water bottles from 24 Hour Fitness at the Troy State game on Nov. 16.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER AND RING CEREMONY: The Runnin' Rebels will unveil the 1998 WAC Championship banner and conduct the ring ceremony prior to tipoff of the Troy State game on Monday, Nov. 16.
UNLV EXHIBITION RESULTS: Looking over the last eight years, here are scores from UNLV's exhibition games:
UNLV 79, California All Stars 69 (11-10-98)UNLV 101, Global Sports 81 (11-5-98)UNLV 72, Melbourne 56 (11-9-97)UNLV 109, USDBL 84 (11-1-97)UNLV 91, Global Sports 81 (11-14-96)UNLV 99, USDBL 86 (11-17-96)UNLV 79, Marathon 76 (11-16-95)UNLV 71, Mexico National 61 (11-21-95)UNLV 98, Verich Reps 92 (11-17-94)Mexico National 82, UNLV 64 (11-22-94)UNLV 92, Verich Reps 88 (11-20-93)Australian Nat. Team 102, UNLV 95 (11-27-93)UNLV 98, Russian Select 68 (11-20-92)UNLV 81, Marathon 80 (11-27-92)UNLV 78, Cuban National 69 (11-7-91)UNLV 89, Marathon 67 (11-18-91)
UNLV VS. GLOBAL SPORTS RECAP: The Runnin' Rebels defeated Global Sports 101-81 on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Six UNLV players scored in double figures. Junior forward Shawn Marion led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Kevin Simmons added 13 points and 6 rebounds and freshman guard Desmond Herod added 12 points (3-for-4 3PFG).
Three players rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 each: sophomore forward Donovan Stewart, sophomore center Kaspars Kambala and freshman forward Chris Richardson. Global Sports' high scorer was Rod Thompson with a game-high 20 points. The first half was a close game as both teams were hot from the field. UNLV led 51-46 at halftime. Global Sports shot .500 from the field (18-for-36) and UNLV shot .548 (17-for-31). UNLV broke the game open in the second half. UNLV outscored Global Sports 17-5 in the first 3:38 second of the second half to take a commanding 68-51 lead. UNLV held its biggest lead of 28 points at 94-66 with 4:15 left in the game. UNLV shot .507 from the field (34-for-67); .500 from 3-point range (11-for-22) and .647 from the free throw line (22-for-34). Global Sports shot .466 from the field (34-for-73); .176 from 3-point range (3-for-17) and .500 from the free throw line (10-for-20). UNLV outrebounded Global Sports 48-35.
UNLV VS. CALIFORNIA ALL STARS RECAP: The Runnin' Rebels defeated California All Stars 79-69 on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Four UNLV players scored in double figures. Sophomore center Kaspars Kambala led UNLV with a game-high 18 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Junior forward Shawn Marion registered his second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Donovan Stewart and freshman forward Chris Richardson rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 points each. Sophomore guard Greedy Daniels had a strong performance with 5 assists and 4 steals in 19 minutes. Chivo Anderson and Jerry Gee led California All Stars with 16 points each. The All Stars led 42-33 at halftime. UNLV, trailing 47-37 with 18:02 to play, went on a 28-6 run to take a commanding 65-53 lead with 5:24 to play. UNLV outscored California All Stars 46-27 in the second half to record a 10-point victory. California All Stars shot .403 from the field (27-for-67); .421 from 3-point range (8-for-19) and .636 from the free throw line (7-for-11). UNLV shot .437 (31-for-71) from the field; .105 from 3-point range (2-for-19) and .625 from the free throw line (15-for-24). California All Stars outrebounded UNLV 50-38.
REBEL BASKETBALL LUNCHEONS: The Rebel basketball luncheons featuring Bill Bayno will be held four times this season at noon at the Si Redd Room in the Thomas & Mack Center. Admittance is free to working media.
LUNCHEON SCHEDULE:
Tues., Dec. 15 Tues., Feb. 2
Tues, Jan. 5 Tues., March 2
SACRED HEART: The Pioneers compiled an overall record of 15-12 last season in the New England Collegiate Conference. Sacred Heart defeated Team Fokus 88-81 in an exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 8. This is Sacred Heart's last season as a Division II member in the sport of basketball. The Pioneers will be a Division I member in the 1999-2000 season and play in the Northeast Conference. Runnin' Rebel head coach Bill Bayno is a 1985 graduate of Sacred Heart. The game will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
RUNNIN' REBEL HEAD COACH BILL BAYNO: He begins his fourth season as the head coach of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. He is UNLV's 10th head coach in the 40-year history of Rebel basketball. He has a career record of 52-39 (.571) in three seasons at the helm of Runnin' Rebel basketball. Bayno has recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons (42-23 record over that stretch) and has guided UNLV to postseason play for two straight seasons. UNLV compiled an overall record of 22-10 in 1996-97 in Bayno's second season. UNLV more than doubled its win total from 1995-96 (10-16 record). UNLV advanced to the third round of the NIT. Last season, UNLV compiled an overall record of 20-13. The Runnin' Rebels had a remarkable run winning four games in five days in the WAC Tournament. UNLV posted victories over Hawai'i, Utah, Fresno State and New Mexico to capture the WAC Tournament championship and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. UNLV reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1990-91 season. UNLV faced eighth-ranked Princeton in the NCAA East Regionals in Hartford, Conn. Bayno served seven years as the associate head coach at the University of Massachusetts under John Calipari (now head coach of the NBA's New Jersey Nets). Other coaching experience includes: 1987-88: Assistant Coach, Baptist College (Charleston, SC); 1986-87: Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Kansas; 1985-86: Graduate Assistant Coach, Seton Hall University. Playing experience includes: 1980-82: Massachusetts and 1983-85: Sacred Heart University.
SACRED HEART HEAD COACH DAVE BIKE: He is in his 21st season at Sacred Heart and his record is 363-229 (.613)
TROY STATE: Monday's game will mark the first meeting between the two schools. The Trojans compiled an overall record of 7-20 last season and are a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference. Troy State defeated VASDA All-Stars 127-88 in an exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 5. Monday's game against UNLV will be the season opener for Troy State.
TROY STATE HEAD COACH DON MAESTRI: He is in his 17th season at Troy State and his record is 270-182 (.597).
TROY STATE PROBABLE STARTERS: Forwards: Eugene Christopher (6-3, Jr.), Nick Cherry (6-6, Jr.); Center: Rammy Morrison (6-8, Fr.); guards: Aldo Hudson (6-1, Jr.), Joey Raines (6-3, So.)
HOME OPENERS: UNLV is 32-8 (.800) in home openers and 3-0 under coach Bayno. UNLV defeated Loyola Marymount 96-81 in last season's home opener on Nov. 15. UNLV is 14-1 in home openers at the Thomas & Mack Center. The only loss was against Cal State Fullerton, 82-80, on Dec. 17, 1994.
A STATISTICAL COMPARISON: Here's a look at Sacred Heart and UNLV's final statistical averages from last season.
UNLV S.H.Points per game 69.5 78.0 Opp. points per game 66.6 76.1Margin +2.9 +1.9Rebounds per game 38.4 35.9Opp. rebounds per game 37.2 39.6 Margin +1.2 -3.7 Field goal pct. .422 .465 Opp. field goal pct. .405 .4393-Pt. FG pct. .344 .365 Free throw pct. .656 .650 Opp. free throw pct. .669 .670 Turnovers per game 13.6 16.0Opp. turnovers per game 13.6 17.4 Turnover margin --- +1.4
