Bruins hope to run Rebels out of L.A.

Thursday, December 10, 1998

MEN'S BASKETBALL: UCLA looks to win over UNLV for pre-conference boost

By Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The Rebels from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas will be runnin' into Pauley Pavilion for a non-conference showdown this Saturday, but right now the Bruins have another team on their minds - UCLA.

With the contest a few days away, the Bruins aren't worrying about their 2 p.m. matchup with their Western Athletic Conference foe from across the state border. Rather, UCLA is focusing upon themselves.

More specifically, the 15th ranked Bruins (4-2) are trying to figure out how to put teams away.

"We can't allow teams to get back in the game by making poor decisions," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said. "We've got to make better shots when we have teams on the ropes."

On opening night UCLA led Santa Clara by 13, but allowed the Broncos to get within four before finally putting the game away.

Over Thanksgiving break, the Bruins led Kentucky by five at halftime, but fell 66-62.

And in last Saturday's win in the John R. Wooden Classic, UCLA held a 14-point stranglehold on Oklahoma State before allowing the Cowboys a chance to tie it up in the final seconds.

"In some ways it's defensive patience that's needed and in some ways its offensive patience," Lavin said. "We've got to get ball reversals. It helps us open up the post and get good outside looks at the basket."

After turning the ball over 24 times in opening two rounds of the Puerto Rico Shootout, UCLA has managed to commit fewer turnovers than its opponents in the past three games.

However, the Bruins will have to contend with a UNLV squad that has forced an average of nearly 21 turnovers per game.

"I do know that they are very athletic, very talented, and very quick," Lavin said.

Led by 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game from junior forward Shawn Marion, the Rebels have jumped out to a 4-3 start.

But they have yet to prove their worth against an opponent from a major conference - UNLV's wins have come against Sacred Heart, Troy State, Weber State and Nevada-Reno.

Blowouts by Kansas and Arizona State and a narrow defeat by USC supplied the Rebels with their three losses.

"They're not playing well right now, but they're a talented team," Lavin said. "They're searching for a rhythm, searching for an identity."

The Bruins are hoping UNLV will wait at least another weekend before finding it. If they get past the Rebels, UCLA will be carrying at a pretty good record heading into conference play at the beginning of January.

Between UNLV and the conference opener at home against Arizona on Jan. 2, the Bruins will take on Cal State Northridge (5-2), American University (3-5) and Loyola Marymount (3-3) - all at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins will host Arizona State on Jan. 4 and then travel to Oregon and Oregon State to close out the winter break schedule.

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After starting the first four games of the season, freshman forward JaRon Rush is expected to begin the UNLV contest on the bench for the third consecutive time.

He's suffering from chronic lower back pain.

"With JaRon's back, he's missed a lot of practices," Lavin said. "(His benching) is less to do with his performance than it has to do with the practice."

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The UNLV game on Saturday also has importance for UCLA outside of the win-loss record. The Bruins' top recruiting target, Alaskan power forward Carlos Boozer, Jr. will be on hand at Saturday's game as a guest of UCLA.

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