Notebook: Stanback sits first half for academic reasons

By Ryan Greene

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 | 2:10 a.m.

Following Monday's practice, UNLV coach Lon Kruger said that he expected junior forward Chace Stanback to start Tuesday's exhibition opener against Grand Canyon University.

Those plans changed, he said, later on Monday night, when a punishment was decided upon by him and his staff after Stanback failed to live up to academic expectations over the summer sessions.

The UCLA transfer, who averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game a year ago, sat the first half of the Rebels' 90-66 victory over the Antelopes before scoring four points in 12 second-half minutes. He'll do the same when the team closes its exhibition schedule next Tuesday back at the Thomas & Mack Center against Washburn.

"Chace, just simply, it's academic responsibilities, nothing more," Kruger said afterward. "He understands that he's a good student and needs to keep doing better. We'll do the same thing the next game, then it'll be over. Nothing more than that."

Added Stanback: "I didn't take care of my responsibilities in the summer, and I have to suffer the consequences. The only person I can be mad at is myself."

It was not specified whether Stanback's issue was related to missed classes or grades.

Either way, it threw a wrench in the 2010-11 debut for the 6-foot-8 Los Angeles native, who has been the Rebels' most impressive player so far through two weeks of practices after spending more time back at his natural small forward position.

"You definitely don't want to sit down a half," he said. "You have to warm up again. You don't get into the flow of the game like everyone else has. I'll just look forward to the next one."

Sophomores rising

Neither Anthony Marshall nor Justin Hawkins made it no secret all summer — mostly via their busy Twitter feeds — that they were spending more time than ever in the gym.

The results were on full display on Tuesday night.

The sophomore duo went in the books as the Rebels' top two scorers. Hawkins played a team-high 28 minutes, scoring 13 points to go with two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Marshall's 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting were a game high. He had three assists, no turnovers and, maybe most notable, was 1-of-1 from 3-point range.

Marshall was just 1-of-23 from deep last season, and for the latter part of the year simply avoided taking outside shots. He spent plenty of hours in the gym this offseason working on his form, which looks much cleaner and simpler this time around.

As for Hawkins, who is vying for time as the team's back-up point guard behind junior Oscar Bellfield, he not only appears stronger but much more confident in driving at the basket and either finishing or creating for others.

Mashour debuts

The jury is still out on whether late-add freshman swingman Karam Mashour will redshirt this season once the exhibition schedule is in the books.

There were cases made for both sides of the argument on Tuesday night.

Mashour scored six points in 16 minutes. At times, he looked confident and aggressive, challenging defenders on drives, jumping passing lanes and hounding the ball.

At others, he appeared raw within the American game that he's only been playing for about eight months.

Numbers of note

• UNLV was a very efficient 32-of-44 (72.7 percent) from the floor, opting for drives to the bucket more often than settling for 3-point looks. A lot of that, though, had to do with the size discrepancy between them and the opponent.

• Meanwhile, the Rebels hit five of their six 3-point tries.

• Tuesday's announced paid attendance was 9,306.