Freshman guard Marshall welcomes start at San Diego State

SAN DIEGO -- All freshmen deal with growing pains in one form or another, and UNLV guard Anthony Marshall has been through a few this season. Now comes the next step on his growth chart.

With the 23rd-ranked Rebels on the ropes and backed into a corner in the Mountain West Conference race, Marshall will make his first career road start today.

UNLV (19-5, 7-3) faces San Diego State (17-7, 6-4) at 1 p.m. at Viejas Arena for a game that's important to both teams' postseason hopes.

"It's been a long season, so I've got the nervousness out of my system," said Marshall, a Mojave High School product. "As a team, we've got to go in there and make a statement."

The Rebels were rolling before their five-game winning streak was stopped cold in a 76-66 home loss to New Mexico on Wednesday. The Lobos dominated a physical battle and took over first place in the conference.

The Aztecs pose a similar threat because of the size and strength on their front line with 6-foot-9-inch Malcolm Thomas, 6-8 Billy White (Green Valley High) and 6-6 Kawhi Leonard.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said he plans to start Marshall in place of junior Kendall Wallace because Marshall gives the Rebels a more advantageous matchup.

"We may look at a couple possible changes. It's just to keep stirring it up a little bit," Kruger said. "I think Anthony has done a really good job defensively and rebounding, and he's attacking offensively."

Marshall showed glimpses of those abilities against New Mexico. He split the defense for a dunk in the first half, and during a second-half rally he grabbed a rebound and outraced the defense for layup.

"San Diego State is an athletic ballclub, and I'm one of the more athletic players on the team, so I've got to go in and contribute right away," said Marshall, who scored 11 points in his only start in a loss to Kansas State on Dec. 12.

Junior guard Tre'Von Willis said the Rebels, 8-1 on the road, are prepared to avoid more adversity. He said players were "disappointed" and "mad" after watching film of the loss to New Mexico.

"We have to respond," Willis said. "We felt that's the worst we can play, so the only way to go is up. Our effort is what frustrated me and disappointed me. When you look at yourself on film, with the effort we brought, you can't win games like that.

"But we're going to bounce back from this. If we want to be successful, we've got to act like we've got a chip on our shoulder and we have something to prove."

The Lobos danced on the Rebels to the tune of a 45-23 rebounding advantage. The Aztecs are capable of doing the same with Thomas, White and Leonard crashing the glass.

"It was embarrassing. I'm not going to lie. It hurt," said UNLV forward Chace Stanback, who had four rebounds in 34 minutes against New Mexico. "We've got to fight back. I definitely feel like it's a challenge, and we're up for it.

"We knew it was a big game, but I felt like we didn't play together as a team with all five guys on the same page, myself included. I felt like I was out of whack on some plays. We've got to pick our intensity back up. This one is definitely the game we've got to get."

Leonard, a budding freshman star, scored a career-high 26 points and had eight rebounds Wednesday as San Diego State punished Wyoming, 88-57.

"I am sure (UNLV) will be fighting mad after having lost a home game to New Mexico," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. "It's a have-to-win game for both teams, and I think both teams will play with that type of controlled desperation."

Willis scored 23 points and Stanback 18 when the Rebels defeated San Diego State 76-66 on Jan. 13 in Las Vegas. Leonard had 13 points for the Aztecs, who were plus-9 in rebounds.

"San Diego State is a very good rebounding team, so hopefully that will get our attention," Kruger said. "This group has made progress from wins and losses, especially losses, and we have to do that again."

• NOTES -- The Aztecs' 31-point win over Wyoming tied the school record for largest margin of victory in an MWC game. ... Stanback said the Lobos' Darington Hobson hit him early in the second half Wednesday. Hobson was assessed a technical foul but not ejected. "It wasn't really a punch," Stanback said. "It was kind of a cheap shot, but that's part of the game."

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