Rebels forward Mashour remains upbeat as he bides time on bench

Karam Mashour was described as a hidden gem when he committed to play basketball at UNLV. Not much was known about the 6-foot-6-inch swingman from Nazareth, Israel.

Halfway through his sophomore season, Mashour remains hidden at the end of the bench.

"I have a very good attitude. My mentality is tough," he said. "I just keep working hard. I'm getting better."

The lone prominent role Mashour plays is for the scout team in practice. But he's not a mystery. He is talented yet raw, just as advertised. The positive attitude his coaches always have raved about is still there.

"Nothing really breaks his spirit," sophomore forward Mike Moser said. "Karam has a bright future. There's no way he can't make it with his work ethic."

Mashour's opportunities to play mostly come in lopsided games, so he should get on the floor when the 19th-ranked Rebels (13-2) host Central Arkansas (5-6) at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

He was sent in for only the final 40 seconds of UNLV's 85-68 victory over California on Friday. In nine games this season, Mashour has totaled eight points and 27 minutes.

"He's shooting after practice," Moser said Monday night while watching Mashour. "Most guys who aren't getting minutes probably would be high-tailing it home right now. He has a really good mindset and he hasn't stopped working."

Moser, the Rebels' No. 2 scorer and leading rebounder, is Mashour's roommate and unofficial counselor. Before transferring from UCLA, Moser spent his freshman year on the bench and appeared in only 15 games.

"I can definitely sympathize with his situation," Moser said. "Everybody on the team considers him our little brother. The things I tell him are to stay patient and keep working, and that's what he does.

"He's playing behind some really strong guards on our team. It's not like he's sitting on the bench on a cupcake team. We're a legitimate program."

Mashour said he "made the right decision" to resist former coach Lon Kruger's suggestion to redshirt last season, though he averaged just 2.3 points in 12 games. He learned to speak fluent English and adjusted to school and big-time college basketball. But there's still no telling when he might get significant minutes.

"It's a credit to his character, because it's very hard to come every day and work hard, just like everyone else does, and never get an opportunity," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "It's just tough, because he's got guys on our roster who are simply ahead of him in the rotation.

"I still have confidence in him. He's terrific on the scout team. He's a valuable member of our team, and he helps us win."

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