Nov. 12, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
LAS VEGAS - After opening the exhibition season with a 96-68 win over the EA Sports West All-Stars on Saturday, the UNLV men's basketball team will host its final exhibition of the year on Tuesday, Nov. 13 against Global Sports. UNLV opens the regular season this Saturday, Nov. 17 with Wisconsin. Both games are at the Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) and are scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 13Global Sports All-Stars at UNLV7:35 p.m. PST
Game at Thomas & Mack Center (18,500), Las Vegas, Nev., Game may be heard live on ESPN 920 AM in Las Vegas (Internet audio broadcasts at UNLVRebels.com will begin with the regular season)
THE RUNNIN' REBELS
UNLV is under new leadership in 2001-02 as Charlie Spoonhour was named head coach on March 29. UNLV returns nine players and welcomes seven new faces to this year's roster. Last year, the squad finished with an overall record of 16-13 and finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a 7-7 mark.
THE OPPONENT
Global Sports Tour ScheduleNov. 1 Def. Kansas State 58-57Nov. 2 Lost to Nevada, Reno 81-72Nov. 4 Lost to Fresno State 78-74Nov. 5 Lost to San Jose State 69-47Nov. 6 Lost to Iowa State 90-81Nov. 8 Def. Southern Utah 72-68Nov. 9 Lost to Nevada, Reno 80-71Nov. 10 Def. Utah State 72-67Nov. 11 Lost to Oregon 85-65Nov. 13 UNLVNov. 14 UCLA
UNLV EXHIBITION HISTORY
Looking back over the last 11 years (including the game on Saturday), here are the scores from UNLV's exhibition games:
UNLV 96, EA Sports West All-Stars 68 (11-10-01)UNLV 91, Los Angeles All-Stars 79 (11-10-00)UNLV 94, Delta Jammers 80 (11-7-00)UNLV 104, California West All-Stars 87 (11-15-99)UNLV 103, Global Sports 97 (11-8-99)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 99, USDBL 86 (11-17-96)UNLV 91, Global Sports 81 (11-14-96)UNLV 71, Mexico National 61 (11-21-95)UNLV 79, Marathon 76 (11-16-95)Mexico National 82, UNLV 64 (11-22-94)UNLV 98, Verich Reps 92 (11-17-94)Australian National Team 102, UNLV 95 (11-27-93)UNLV 92, Verich Reps 88 (11-20-93)UNLV 81, Marathon 80 (11-27-92)UNLV 98, Russian Select 68 (11-20-92)UNLV 89, Marathon 67 (11-18-91)UNLV 78, Cuban National 69 (11-7-91)
FOR OPENERS
UNLV opens the regular season on Sat., Nov. 17 with Wisconson at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. UNLV is 33-10 all-time in season openers and is 25-4 when opening the season at home. The Rebels have never lost at the T&M in a season opener as they are 10-0. UNLV has won its season opener each of the last six seasons.
LAST YEAR
UNLV recorded an overall record of 16-13 and finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a 7-7 mark in 2000-01. The Runnin' Rebels were 12-3 at the Thomas & Mack Center, which included a streak of nine straight wins from Dec. 18 through Jan. 8. The team was led by two-time All-Mountain West Conference first-team selection Kaspars Kambala, who averaged 16.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg on the year. UNLV had two other players who averaged in double figures in scoring (Trevor Diggs: 14.1 and Dalron Johnson: 12.3). Head Coach Bill Bayno was reassigned on Dec. 12 and assistant Max Good was named head coach for the remainder of the season. Because of NCAA sanctions, the Runnin' Rebels were not eligible for postseason play, which included the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
MWC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK LAST YEAR
UNLV had three players selected as the Mountain West Player of the Week last year. They were Trevor Diggs (March 5), Jermaine Lewis (Jan. 29) and Kaspars Kambala (Nov. 29).
UNLV LAST YEAR IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
UNLV led the Mountain West conference in blocked shots with 5.48 per game and steals with 7.41 per game in 2000-01. UNLV was in the top half of the conference in the following other categories: scoring offense (second), rebounding offense (second), assists (second), turnover margin (fourth), offensive rebounds (second), 3-point field goals made (fourth), assist/turnover ratio (third), defensive rebounds (third).
NEW COACHING STAFF
UNLV has a new coaching staff this year. Charlie Spoonhour became the 12th head coach in Runnin' Rebel history on March 29. He came to UNLV after spending two years out of coaching. He didn't stray too far away from the game as he served in the media as an analyst on college basketball broadcasts. Prior to that he was the head coach at Saint Louis University for seven years. Before SLU, Spoonhour was head coach at Southwest Missouri State University for nine seasons. He has a 16-year Division I head coaching record of 319-171 (.651) and has led 11 teams to the postseason, including eight to the NCAA Touranment.
THE REST OF THE STAFF
UNLV also has three new assistant coaches. They are Deane Martin, Jay Spoonhour and Derek Thomas. UNLV has retained Dave Rice, who will serve this season as Director of Basketball Operations. Rice is in his ninth year on staff. Martin was most recently the associate head coach at Tennessee-Martin. Spoonhour (Charlie's son) was most recently head coach at Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Ill., where he led the team to the junior college national championship with a record of 36-1 and was named the National Junior College Coach of the Year. Thomas was most recently with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
UNLV ONLY MWC TEAM TO HAVE WINNING RECORD VS. EACH TEAM
The Runnin' Rebels are the only Mountain West Conference team with a better than .500 record all-time against the other seven members of the conference. Air Force (12-1), BYU (6-5), Colorado State (13-5), New Mexico (11-8), San Diego State (21-5), Utah (10-9), Wyoming (13-8).
UNLV BOASTS BEST HOME RECORD IN MWC
Out of the eight Mountain West schools, UNLV has the best all-time winning percentage on its home court. UNLV is 242-42 (.852) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Utah is second at .815 (382-87).
IN OVERTIME
UNLV is 35-17 (.673) all-time in overtime games. Last season, UNLV was 1-2 in overtime games. Additionally, UNLV is 28-14 in single overtime games, 5-3 in double overtime and 2-0 in triple overtime. The Runnin' Rebels have a record of 6-3 in overtime games at the Thomas & Mack Center.
MOVIN' UP THE CHART
With 101 blocked shots for his career, Dalron Johnson is No. 6 on the all-time Runnin' Rebel blocked shot list. Stacey Augmon is No. 5 with 128.
UNLV IS 30-5 IN LAST 35 GAMES AT THE MACK'
The Runnin' Rebels are in their 19th season in the 18,500-seat Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV has posted an all-time record of 242-42 (.852) in the arena since it opened in 1983. The Runnin' Rebels were 12-3 at home in 2000-01 and were 18-2 during the 1999-00 season, so UNLV has won 30 of its last 35 games at home. UNLV has been edged at home by four points or less 17 times and the 42 losses has been by an average of 7.9 points (330 total points).
RUNNIN' REBELS ON THE AIR
All Runnin' Rebel games are carried live on ESPN 920 AM in Las Vegas and on the internet at UNLVRebels.com (beginning with the regular season). Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick are in their 10th season calling Runnin' Rebel basketball. Broadcasts will start one-half hour prior to the beginning of each game with the pregame show and the postgame show will feature a live interview with head coach Charlie Spoonhour followed by fan call-ins. The broadcasts are also available inside the Thomas & Mack Center by tuning to 99.5 FM. The fan call-in number is (702) 876-8585. For the first time Runnin' Rebel games will be heard on a regional network of stations. ESPN Regional at UNLV and Lotus Broadcasting have teamed up with PV Radio and KZBZ Radio to help create the first-ever UNLV Sports Network, a seven station grouping that will reach across the state and into parts of Arizona, California and Utah.
UNLV SPORTS NETWORK
For the first time Runnin' Rebel games will be heard on a regional network of stations. ESPN Regional at UNLV and Lotus Broadcasting have teamed up with PV Radio and KZBZ Radio to help create the first-ever UNLV Sports Network, a seven station grouping that will reach across the state and into parts of Arizona, California and Utah. The stations are in Las Vegas (Network Flagship - 920 AM), Pahrump, Nev. (95.9 FM), Amargosa Valley, Nev. (96.7 FM), Beatty, Nev. (93.5 FM), Scotty's Junction, Nev. (94.3 FM), Death Valley, Calif. (91.1 FM) and Pioche, Nev. (98.9 FM - Lincoln County and most of Southern Utah).
COACH'S SHOWS
"Game Time with UNLV Hoops" television show will be shown Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on Las Vegas One (cable channels 1 and 39) and on KLAS TV-8 at 11:30 p.m. (begins Nov. 25) The show is hosted by Chris Maathuis and features head coach Charlie Spoonhour. (no show is scheduled for 12/30)
"The Charlie Spoonhour Radio Show" may be heard live Tuesdays (first show is scheduled for Wed., 11/21 - Tuesdays after first show) from the ESPN Zone at New York-New York Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The show airs from 7-8 p.m. on ESPN 920 AM in Las Vegas and may be heard on the internet at UNLVRebels.com on an archived basis. (no show is scheduled for 11/27, 12/25, 1/1, 1/15 and 2/5) It is hosted by Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick and features head coach Charlie Spoonhour.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
On Saturday, Nov. 17, all ticketed fans for the Wisconsin game are invited to join in a tailgate party in front of the Thomas & Mack Center. The party will feature music, activities for kids and FREE bratwurst and soda while supplies last. Beer will also be available for purchase. The party begins at 6:15 p.m. and will end at 7:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets as well as individual game tickets are available for the 2001-02 season. Individual game balcony tickets are priced at $15 and $12 with the exception of the Las Vegas Showdown on Dec. 22. Tickets for that event on the balcony level are $22. Individual game seats on the plaza level for men's basketball will go on sale only 24 hours prior to each game. Those tickets are $25 for all games except the Las Vegas Showdown on Dec. 22. Tickets for that event on the plaza level are $28. Also on sale are Family Four Packs, which include 4 balcony level tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 popcorns, and 4 sodas, all for $56. Family Four Packs are available for all games except the Las Vegas Showdown. Family Four Packs are only available for purchase at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office. Individual game tickets may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, at all Tickets.com locations, by calling Tickets.com at (888) 464-2468, and by logging onto UNLVRebels.com. For more ticket information, please call (702) 895-UNLV.
LUNCHEONS
UNLV Sports Marketing luncheons featuring Charlie Spoonhour will be held at the Si Redd Room at the Thomas & Mack Center. The luncheons are scheduled for Nov. 15, Dec. 18, Jan. 23, Feb. 14 and March 5. Luncheons begin at noon and are $10 for the public. Media interested in attending should RSVP to Andy Grossman. For more information, please call (702) 895-UNLV.
REBELS ON TV
UNLV is scheduled to appear on television at least 17 times this season. The Runnin' Rebels are scheduled to appear on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+plus, ABC, SportsWest and ESPN Regional at UNLV.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The 2001-02 Mountain West Conference Basketball Championship will be played Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9, at the Thomas & Mack Center. All eight teams will compete in the tournament with the champion receiving the MWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This is the third year that the MWC Tournament will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and the sixth straight year a conference tournament will be played at the TMC (The WAC held its championship at the TMC from 1997-99).
44 YEARS OF BASKETBALL
The 2001-02 year marks the 44th season of Runnin' Rebel basketball at UNLV. Since the program's inception in 1958-59, the Runnin' Rebels have posted an all-time record of 912-351 (.722). In 1969-70, UNLV made the move to Division I and has since posted a record of 725-247 (.746) while competing at that level. In addition, UNLV has an all-time mark of 877-329 (.727) against Division I competition.
"THREE-POINT GOAL ..."
Since the 3-point field goal was adopted by the NCAA in 1986-87, UNLV has converted at least one 3-pointer in all 475 games played. During that span, the Runnin' Rebels have made 3,132-of-8,661 (.362) shots from behind the arc. The Big West Conference experimented with the 3-point shot in the 1982-83, 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. During that period, UNLV connected from 3-point range in 53 of the 64 games (the 3-pointer was used in some non-conference games). The Runnin' Rebels sank 194-of-505 (.384) 3-point attempts during that time. The UNLV streak for games in which it sank at least one 3-point shot stands at 492. The last time the Runnin' Rebels failed to make at least one 3-pointer came against Long Beach State on Jan. 25, 1986. So, UNLV has sunk at least one shot from behind the arch in 528 of the 539 games in which the rule was used. In addition, the Runnin' Rebels have shot .363 from this distance while sinking 3,326-of-9,166 attempts. UNLV holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games scoring a 3-point field goal. Vanderbilt is No. 2 on the list, three back, with 472.
UNLV ON THE WEB
The four-year-old UNLV athletics web site www.UNLVRebels.com was re-launched in 2000 with an updated look and additional features to best serve fans and media interested in the Rebels. Originally launched in Nov. 1997, UNLVRebels.com has steadily expanded in both content and usership but now boasts a new graphic design that elevates it to among the leaders in the industry. Designed for use by alumni, students, fans and media, the Rebels' home on the internet features in-depth, updated information 24 hours a day. The site features rosters, records, historical information and biographical sketches of players and coaches in addition to any and all results since the website first premiered.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews with UNLV men's basketball players and coaches may be arranged through SID Andy Grossman. Requests for interviews must be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling the UNLV sports information department at (702) 895-3995.
MEDIA TEAMLINK AND INFO CONNECTION
UNLV's release, statistics and latest box score are all available on the internet through www.mediateamlink.com. Media members may view documents on the internet or have the information e-mailed to them the moment it is updated. The service is free to all accredited members of the media. The same information is available on Info Connection and may be obtained by calling (770) 558-6000 from a fax machine. Media members without a PIN should call (770) 399-0096 to obtain one. The MWC's passcode is 692#. The Runnin' Rebel release code is 1906, the stats code is 1908 and the previous game box code is 1909.
