Hawkins, Stanback lead Rebels’ romp

An ill feeling was sticking with junior guard Justin Hawkins and his UNLV teammates in recent days, but it was nothing a flu shot could cure.

The Rebels' morale was down following their first loss of the season. An NAIA opponent provided the perfect remedy.

"This game was really a confidence booster for us," said Hawkins, who scored 23 points to lift UNLV to a 94-50 victory over Cal State San Marcos on Wednesday night at Orleans Arena.

Three days after the Rebels were humbled in a 19-point blowout at Wichita State, they shot the tires out on an outclassed Cougars team that traveled to Las Vegas in four minivans.

UNLV (9-1) was ranked 18th in The Associated Press poll last week, but its eight-game winning streak was stopped and its ranking was stripped after the Sunday debacle in Wichita, Kan.

Another "lingering affect" from that loss, coach Dave Rice said, was a brief absence in the Rebels' swagger.

"It was a letdown because we felt we got blitzed throughout the whole game," Hawkins said. "I think we needed a game like this. We've had a real tough stretch of games."

And it's about to get more difficult. The Rebels, who played their fifth consecutive game away from the Thomas & Mack Center while it hosts the National Finals Rodeo, hit the road again to play 14th-ranked Wisconsin (7-2) on Saturday.

The Badgers, who beat Wisconsin-Green Bay 70-42 on Wednesday, have won 42 consecutive home games against unranked nonconference foes.

"It's going to be a tremendous challenge playing on their home court," Rice said. "They don't lose many games there."

Wisconsin features senior Jordan Taylor, arguably the top point guard in college basketball, and also led the nation in scoring defense at 44.5 points per game entering Wednesday.

Cal State San Marcos, a first-year program at the NAIA level, offered no such challenges to UNLV.

The Rebels raced to huge advantages in points off turnovers (34-0), fast-break points (25-0) and scoring from the bench (47-7). Hawkins, sophomore forward Carlos Lopez (11 points) and senior guard Kendall Wallace (eight) brought plenty from the reserves.

Hawkins, who shot 9-for-12 from the field and made his only 3-pointer, added seven rebounds and five steals in 25 minutes.

"It was very important for us to bounce back after that tough loss, and J-Hawk played great tonight," said UNLV senior Chace Stanback, who had 16 points and six rebounds. "He's like a magnet for the basketball. He always seems to get steals when you don't expect it."

The Cougars (5-6) led 5-2 after three minutes and trailed by one with 10:44 left in the first half. But Hawkins scored five points during a 22-4 run that stretched the Rebels' lead to 42-23.

Hawkins had totaled only 15 points in UNLV's previous three games, against Wichita State, UC Santa Barbara and North Carolina, but his defensive intensity never declined.

"Justin brings it every night," Rice said. "There has not been a more consistent player in our program."

Sophomore forward Mike Moser, the Rebels' leading scorer and rebounder, was held to six points and 12 rebounds. Moser was playing with a sprained right wrist that he injured Sunday and aggravated in Tuesday's practice.

"There's no doubt his wrist is bothering him. It affects his shooting and his aggressiveness," Rice said. "But Mike is really a tough guy."

UNLV also received significant contributions from senior center Brice Massamba (10 points) and guards Oscar Bellfield (eight points, six assists) and Anthony Marshall (seven points, eight assists).

Aaron Chamberlain shot 10-for-11 from the field and had 24 points for Cal State San Marcos, which was pressured into 26 turnovers.

The game helped "sharpen our skills," Hawkins said.

The warmup for Wisconsin also improved the Rebels' mental health, if nothing else.

"I know we're going to be in for a battle," Hawkins said.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.