Hawkins, No. 17 Rebels aim to step up defensively vs. Cal State Bakersfield

It’s easy to be impressed by the offensive numbers the 17th-ranked Rebels are compiling, but Hawkins never loses focus of where fast-break basketball begins.

“I think this team is a lot more aggressive, and we’re more locked in on every possession on the defensive end,” he said.

In its final nonconference test at 7 p.m. today, UNLV (15-2) gets another chance to chart its defensive progress against Cal State Bakersfield (7-8) in what is expected to be a run-and-shoot offensive display.

The Rebels rank 13th in the nation in scoring at 80.8 points per game, and their 18.8 assists per game rank fourth nationally. Playing the game at high speed is what first-year coach Dave Rice promised.

But when fatigue becomes a factor, the next challenge is not using the defensive end as a rest stop.

“We’re playing at a fast pace and we’re playing a lot of possessions, so the guys are not used to playing this many possessions on both offense and defense. I think that always affects you,” associate head coach Justin Hutson said. “This team is getting better and better on the defensive end.

“The players are doing their best not to take possessions off, and that’s what Coach Rice always preaches. We’re still a work in progress.”

Rice calls Hutson the team’s defensive coordinator, but he also said the coaching on both ends is a “collaborative effort” that includes integral roles for assistants Stacey Augmon and Heath Schroyer. Hutson was in charge of the nation’s seventh-ranked scoring defense as a San Diego State assistant last season.

While Rice coordinates the Rebels’ offense, Hutson, Augmon and Schroyer share the responsibilities of keeping the defense — which is based in solid man-to-man principles — up to the same speed.

“We’re not a smash-mouth team that walks it up and then gets two guys back,” said Hutson, who in the early 1990s won a pair of Division II championships as a backup point guard at Cal State Bakersfield. “We’re going up and down and taking quick shots, so transition defense is paramount.”

UNLV ranks 143rd in the nation in scoring defense (65.4 points per game) and 185th in 3-point field-goal defense (34.1 percent).

“It’s nothing that just sends off a horn and a red signal,” Rice said. “But I think the place we probably need to make the most dramatic improvement is 3-point field-goal percentage defense.”

In the Rebels’ losses, at Wichita State and Wisconsin, they were burned by hot 3-point shooters. So, Rice said the Roadrunners, who run and spread the floor with shooters, provide an ideal test to UNLV’s perimeter defense.

Rice’s first option off the bench is Hawkins, who leads the Rebels with 36 steals. He sticks to shooters and might be the defender Rice most trusts.

“Justin has been as consistent as anyone on our team in terms of the effort that he brings,” Rice said. “He understands our system, so certainly Justin is at the top of the list.”

Right next to Hawkins on that list is sophomore forward Mike Moser, who averages 11.1 rebounds and has pulled down 132 of his 189 on the defensive end.

“Where you’ve got to start with Mike’s defense is his rebounding. He’s as good a rebounder as there is in the country,” Rice said.

Anthony Marshall, Oscar Bellfield and reserve Reggie Smith are also strong on-ball defenders. Rice said the depth is available to force the tempo with more trapping in the backcourt — a wrinkle UNLV’s coaches might add to their defense in Mountain West Conference play, which opens Jan. 14 at San Diego State.

■ NOTES — Sophomore forward Carlos Lopez will start in place of senior center Brice Massamba, who experienced concussion-like symptoms after Saturday’s game at Hawaii. Rice said Massamba will be “available in an emergency situation.” Massamba has started all 17 games. Lopez is getting his first career start. … Today’s game will stream live at Gorunners.com for a charge of $5.99.

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