Rebels benefit from Stanback cameo
Chace Stanback still has a one-game suspension to serve, but the senior forward was allowed to play in a closed scrimmage Saturday and he helped UNLV defeat Loyola Marymount.
The Rebels beat the Lions by eight points in a 40-minute scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. NCAA rules prohibited fans and media from attending, and no score or statistics were reported.
The scrimmage was played at a faster pace and it was much higher scoring than UNLV's 58-50 exhibition victory over Division II Washburn (Kan.) on Tuesday.
Stanback, the Rebels' top returning scorer, was suspended for the exhibition and one regular-season game after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana in the offseason. His presence in the scrimmage was a boost to the team's offensive production.
"Chace started and he played well," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "We certainly made progress in terms of our offensive execution. I think the biggest thing is we made improvement from Tuesday, and that's the goal for us."
Stanback, who averaged 13.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in 33 games as a junior, will sit out the Rebels' opener against Division II Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. Friday.
Sophomore forward Carlos Lopez, who scored 11 points against Washburn, also will miss Friday's game. Lopez suffered a severe sprain of his right ankle in Wednesday's practice, and Rice said Lopez could be out "a few weeks."
Rice started a lineup of Stanback, senior center Brice Massamba, sophomore forward Mike Moser, senior guard Oscar Bellfield and junior guard Anthony Marshall on Saturday. Senior guard Kendall Wallace came off the bench and shot the ball well, Rice said.
After the 40-minute scrimmage, the teams played an eight-minute period working specifically against zone defenses, plus another seven-minute period.
Rice scheduled the scrimmage instead of a second exhibition. The Lions are coached by Max Good, who was UNLV's head coach for the final 22 games of the 2000-01 season.
"I'm really pleased with our defensive effort," Rice said. "We played against a team that is a formidable opponent, without a doubt."
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
