Family members cheer on UNLV in win over Air Force

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Monday, Feb. 8, 2021 | 9:40 p.m.

Lena Grill almost had the best seat in the house.

When UNLV tipped off on Monday night, the mother of sophomore guard Caleb Grill had a spot in section 116, at midcourt of the Thomas & Mack Center, six rows up from the floor. There were five rows of cardboard cutouts set up in front of her, but that was OK. It was as close as she’s been to her son in a long time.

Lena Grill made the trip from Maize, Kansas, to watch UNLV’s two-game series against Air Force, which the scarlet and gray swept by virtue of a 69-64 win on Monday. The Mack has been empty this season due to COVID-19 protocols, but on Jan. 27 UNLV began allowing family members of players to attend in person.

Grill’s father is the head coach at Maize High School and his season schedule prevented him from making the trip; Grill’s younger brothers were also unable to attend due to their basketball schedules. That left Lena as the lone family member repping the Grills in Las Vegas.

Lena said her son appreciated the effort.

“He was excited that I could come out and we’ve been spending some time together,” Lena said. “It’s been really good.”

The last time Grill saw his family before they were allowed in the Mack was on Dec. 5, when UNLV played at Kansas State. Caleb scored 10 points in that game, UNLV’s first win of the season, but even with his people going wild in the stands it was a bittersweet experience.

“We saw him at the Kansas State game but we didn’t get to spend time with him because of COVID protocols, and we didn’t want to take any chances,” Lena said. “Really the last time we got to spend was before he left to come to Las Vegas in September.”

Some UNLV players have gone even longer without seeing their loved ones, as COVID-19 surged through the team in December and forced the program into a pause. That meant no one could go home for the holidays.

Junior guard David Jenkins is one of those. He exploded for a game-high 26 points on Monday, including 20 in a scorching-hot second half to carry UNLV past a very pesky Air Force squad, but he didn’t have anyone in the stands to cheer him on.

Still, Jenkins has taken comfort in hearing his teammates’ families for the past three home games.

“It was good for me to see my teammates’ families there, because I know they miss their family,” Jenkins said. “That’s something we’re really used to, is seeing our family members up in the stands. It [gives you] confidence, seeing your mom or dad up there smiling at you. I was happy for my teammates to be able to enjoy that moment.”

The most difficult moment for the Grill family came when Caleb phoned home to tell his mother he wouldn’t be home for Christmas.

“He had a plane trip booked, and we got the call the day before he was supposed to come home that he was COVID positive,” Lena said. “It was pretty tough because we love Christmas and we have a lot of traditions. That was tough, probably the toughest because it happened so unexpectedly.”

Lena Grill said Devin Tillis, Donavan Yap, Jhaylon Martinez and others had family in the stands for the home series against Air Force.

Grill scored six points in 35 minutes on Monday, but Lena was most interested in a first-half incident that earned her son a technical foul.

Caleb was whistled for a personal foul, took issue with the call and shouted something in the direction of the official, who responded by calling a technical foul on the sophomore guard.

Mom had a good seat, but she wasn’t close enough to the court to hear the choice words her son had for the ref.

“I’d like to know what he said. I thought the foul call was a horrible call, but I’d like to know what he said because he doesn’t get technical fouls.”

If she really wants the truth on that matter she may have to take it up with T.J. Otzelberger, who was in the vicinity of the salty exchange.

After securing a win to improve to 8-9 on the season and 5-5 in Mountain West play, Otzelberger said having family in the arena can provide an emotional lift for the team’s younger players.

“I think we’re really fortunate to be able to have their family members here,” Otzelberger said. “For a lot of these guys it’s been so long since they’ve been able to go home. They weren’t able to go home for Christmas the way we would have hoped or liked, and they haven’t been able to have that time with their family members. Especially for young guys, you have that initial college experience and you go away, and then when you come back home [over the holidays] and see your family you feel like your batteries are recharged a little bit in your support network. We’re very grateful to be able to have that now where we can have some fam members there because I know it means the world to our guys.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.