Rebels triumph over Devils, 99-73

The fact that UNLV point-guard Mark Dickel recorded the team's first triple double since Portland Trailblazer Stacey Augmon did in 1991 proved to be a joy and a pain in the eyes of head coach Bill Bayno.

UNLV destroyed Mississippi Valley State 99-73 in its season opener on Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center before an announced crowd of 11,247 by forcing the Delta Devils to make only 15.6 percent of their 3-pointers.

Dickel scored 17 points and had a career high 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

The problem according to Bayno, however, was two-fold.

For one, Dickel, listed at 6-foot-2, was the team's leading rebounder and according to Bayno, one of only two players that showed up ready to compete.

The second problem was that the team gave up 24 offensive and defensive rebounds to the Delta Devils.

"I'm very disappointed with tonight," Bayno said. "We can't win the Mountain West Conference playing the way we did tonight.

"The score doesn't matter to me. If we play hard and we lose, I'll hug them. I feel I have gotta challenge this group of guys so I was tough on them after.

"Their rebounding and defense, it stunk."

UNLV gave up 88 shots to the Delta Devils, a team that thrives on taking 3-pointers, while taking only 62.

Delta Devil Johnny Dotson capped an early 9-3 run in the second half to pull MVS 55-47 with 16:27 left before Dickel continued to take over.

The senior warmed up with a pull up jumper then went on to score eight of the team's next 10 points to put the Rebels up 65-49.

"Mark Dickel and Chris Richardson played tremendous tonight," Bayno said. "They were the only two that showed up to play."

Richardson provided a nice spark off the bench with his athleticism and leaping ability.

Before the game, UNLV assistant coach Max Good was concerned with the lanky, long arms that characterized a few of the Delta Devils.

It was Richardson that ended up doing the most damage against the Delta Devils.

The lanky forward used his long arms to grab six boards, six steals and block six shots.

Richardson, who scored 11 points, frustrated the Delta Devils by being aggressive on defense and forcing them to regret it when they tried to get the ball by him.

The Delta Devils had nothing to lose entering the game and they played like it.

After winning the tip, MVS led 6-2 after a nice fast break when Dante Thornton fed a driving Dotson, who had 15 points.

Despite a lethargic start, UNLV's Kaspars Kambala helped the team respond with six points during an 11-0 run that gave the Rebels a lead it never relinquished.

Kambala finished with a team high 21 points while Trevor Diggs added 13.

The Delta Devils were led by Dewayne Jefferson who had 23 points.

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