Bellfield passing all tests

It's final exams week at UNLV, and freshman Oscar Bellfield should be at ease because he already has passed every test of his college career.

Bellfield is mastering his basketball studies. The point guard earned more praise Saturday after scoring 17 points in the Rebels' 64-57 victory over UNR in Reno.

"Oscar played like he was a senior. I'm so proud of him," senior Rene Rougeau said. "I really like playing with him. He's getting better every day."

Rougeau was an inside force, shooting 8-for-16 and finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Bellfield finished off the Wolf Pack from the outside by hitting 5 of 7 3-pointers.

Bellfield made three 3-pointers and totaled 11 points during UNLV's decisive 14-6 run late in the game. In a season-high 32 minutes, he had no turnovers.

In the previous five games, sophomore Tre'Von Willis started at point guard for the Rebels. Willis overslept and missed part of Friday morning's practice, however, so coach Lon Kruger put Bellfield back in the starting lineup.

"Coach was telling me to attack and look for open shots," said Bellfield, who started the season's first three games.

UNLV (7-2) gets a break this week before playing Western Michigan at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Orleans Arena.

"It's eight days to really work on things and sharpen things up. I think that comes at a good time," Kruger said.

The Rebels showed improvement in their defense and rebounding Saturday. But free-throw shooting (16-for-26) and offensive execution (seven assists, 14 turnovers) are areas of concern.

Two seniors, Wink Adams and Joe Darger, still are stuck in shooting slumps. Adams has shot 12-for-48 in the past four games, including 1-for-19 from 3-point range in the past five games. Darger is 2-for-14 in the past two games.

But Bellfield and Rougeau had their best performances of the season in the same game.

"Rene was aggressive all over the court," Bellfield said. "He does everything."

Bellfield had scored just one point in his previous two games off the bench. He said knowing he would start helped him be more assertive.

"He has ice in his veins," Rougeau said.

Kruger said UNLV's second half against UNR was "probably as good a stretch as we've had for a while," and Bellfield was instrumental in it.

"Oscar made some big plays," Kruger said. "Oscar played with really good composure."

Kruger put Bellfield and Willis on the court together for extended minutes. Willis played 31 minutes and had 11 points, five rebounds and six turnovers.

After exams this week, the Rebels play four games in 10 days, all in Las Vegas.

"We definitely didn't want to go into this big stretch with a loss," Rougeau said.

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